Gretchen Ryan

Biographical Information

Gretchen Ryan is a foreign-born artist who has been involved in art both here and in Europe. She has studied with German masters and at the Berlin Art Academy.

Gretchen has shown her works in Berlin, Frankfurt and Spain. Since she settled in California her works have been exhibited in southern California, including the Cunningham Gallery in Bakersfield. She has been a presence in all major northern California shows including: The State Fair, the prestigious Kingsley Open, NCA Open, Magnum Opus and many more.

She is a constant award winner, including an ‘Award of Excellence’ at the State Fair, four ‘Best of Shows’, and an Air Force purchase award. For her involvement in art and the community, she has been included in ‘Who’s Who of Women in the World’.

She has juried shows and demonstrates to art groups. She teaches many classes, two at American River College extension, plus the City of Sacramento and the Learning Exchange. She conducts art classes for children hospitalized at the local Shriner’s Hospital and has painted two murals in treatment rooms at the facility.

In service to the local community, Gretchen has participated in the ‘Elk on Parade’ and ‘Pride of Sacramento’, both time-intensive, fundraising activities. She has donated paintings to raise money for the public broadcasting station, KVIE, in its annual auction/fundraiser for over twenty years; her KVIE logo designs have won multiple honors over the years.

Gretchen works in all mediums including hand-made paper. Teaching has kept her art fresh and ready for new ideas in order to serve her students well. She has a studio in Carmichael where she paints and holds classes.