“how do I look?” Ryan Zogheb

charcoal on canvas

each drawing is 62”x52”

This work was born from creating a self-portrait drawing, around 9”x12”, from a mirror everyday for a month. When viewing all the portrait drawings together it was clear that certain days exuded different feelings and emotions, and that on certain days I viewed my own portrait one way whereas other days I viewed it another. Seeing the different portraits and emotions that these drawings brought about, I realized I was subconsciously remembering and referencing different shapes that appeared in previous images of myself during the process of creating. This quickly became overwhelming as I approached thirty drawings, and this new work “how do I look?” was my way of capturing the chaotic and repetitive images that were occurring in my head.

For “how do I look?”, I layered each self portrait drawing on top of each other with charcoal on a large piece of canvas. The first work of “how do I look?” includes seven portraits layered, encompassing one week of looking in the mirror. The second, more chaotic, work of “how do I look?” includes fourteen portrayed layered, encompassing two weeks of looking in the mirror.

Ryan Zogheb graduated from New York University in May 2022, earning his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a major in studio art, concentrating in painting and graphic design. Ryan lives and works out of his studio in East Village in New York City. Since graduating, Ryan has had his work featured in four gallery exhibitions, including Carrie Able Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, and Solas Studio in Manhattan, New York.