R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Artist Statement
R.A. Buys' current concentration is on more commercially/public friendly paintings and drawings he calls “Midnight Therapy”, which is what he shows regularly throughout the year.
Years ago, he moved into his current house and he had no connection to internet, smart phone, or cable. He started drawing these stream of conscience faces in the late hours of the night, that have evolved over the years and continue to change. While a few of them are actual portraits of existing people, most of them are abstract and void of any recognizable features of a real person.
He tries to strip away gender, sex, age, race or any other feature that we tend to intentionally or accidentally judge others on. Matter of fact he likes to look at his drawings as having the skin peeled back and then showing the colors, textures, and patterns that make up a person on the inside. Often, they come across alien.
People say that they see African, Aztec, Polynesian and Celtic influences among others in his art; although this is all accidental as he relies on the moment to dictate what the patterns and images will end up looking like.
He works in very basic mediums. Oil paint, paint pens, and marking pens. Usually on wood but sometimes canvas, whichever is more available at the moment. He tries to re-purpose old frames or makes basic 60s style student lattice frames to add a little character to the finished product.
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R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Education
2013 – In Progress - Herron School of Art and Design (IUPUI) 2012 – Associate of General Fine Art - Ivy Tech Community College
Volunteer Work
2015 Present Re-generation Indy – Indianapolis, Indiana • Teacher and mentor to artists ages 19 and under • Lead small themed art classes and assist other teachers in their classes
2015 Citiway YMCA - Indianapolis, Indiana • Worked with Stephanie Cochran installing “Flat Rock” artwork in lobby
2015 Indiana Museum of Art – Indianapolis, Indiana • Worked with artist Richard Wentworth installing “False Ceiling” artwork lobby
Relevant Experience
2009 – Present - Steve Redman Art Restoration • Restoration Intern • Clean, patch, touch up, and restore paintings • Refinish, re-size, and re-sculpt frames
Awards
2019 Flava Fresh 2019-20 Library Exhibit, Fan Favorite Award 2019 T.C. Steele Plein Air Fall Paint Out, Honorable Mention Mixed Media 2018 Indiana Arts, Honorable Mention Mixed Media 2017 Flava Fresh VIV Library Exhibit, First Place 2016 Flava Fresh VIII Library Exhibit, Fan Favorite Award 2016 Indiana Arts, Third Place Mixed Media 2016 T.C. Steele Plein Air Fall Paint Out, Third Place Mixed Media 2015 Flava Fresh VII Library Exhibit, Fan Favorite Award 2015 T.C. Steele Plein Air Fall Paint Out, Third Place Mixed Media 2013 T.C. Steele Plein Air Spring Paint Out, Second Place Mixed Media
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R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Media
• 2019 Fall 2019 Special Indianapolis Online Issue of Indianapolis Review https://theindianapolisreview.com/featured-artist-r-a-buys/ • 2019 Review, Regeneration Indy at Athenaeum, NUVO Magazine, Indianapolis, IN https://www.nuvo.net/arts/visual/a-visit-to-five-galleries-on-first-friday/article_a2c89d64- 2839-11e9-b1f2-3360c9303739.html • 2017 Review, Flava Fresh at College Ave Library, NUVO Magazine, Indianapolis, IN https://www.nuvo.net/arts/get-some-flava-ful-art-at-flava-fresh-xiv/article_e387938c-b530- 11e7-89ce-ef61186a6594.html • 2014 Review, Tiny III at Gallery 924, NUVO Magazine, Indianapolis, IN http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/review-tiny-iii-at-gallery-924/Content?oid=2989090
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R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Group Exhibitions
2021 Artifacts 2020, Lost Dog Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2021 Black and White, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2021 8 x 10 Show, Lost Dog Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2020 Burrrgandy Show, Harrison Center, Indianapolis, IN 2020 Spectrum III Show, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2020 Home, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2020 Art from the Heartland, Indianapolis Art Center, Broad Ripple, IN 2020 Shades of Summer, Hamilton East Public Library, Fishers, IN 2020 First Friday Group Show, Acceleration Art Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2020 Show Me Yours and Ill Show You Mine, Lost Dog Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Every day is Extraordinary, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Mad Scientists Society Vol. 3, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL 2019-20 Flava Fresh! XIII, 4 different locations, Indianapolis Arts Garden, Clowes Memorial Hall, Sullivan/Munce Museum Cultural Center, North College Public Library, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Spectrum II Show, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Indiana Arts, Indiana Fair, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Making a Mark, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Art Diaries, 4Art Space, Chicago, IL 2019 Reflected Light 2019, A Mid-Summer Art Exhibition, Bread of Life Church, Avon, IN 2019 Blue Exhibition, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Regeneration Indy, Winter Show, Athenaeum, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Onyx and East Show, Harrison Center, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Tiny Show VII, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Feed Me Weird Things, Fountain Square Brewery, Indianapolis, IN 2018 IYUA Show, Hoy Polloy, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Spectrum Show, Garfield Park Art Center, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Indiana Arts, Indiana Fair, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Reflected Light 2018, A Mid-Summer Art Exhibition, Bread of Life Church, Avon, IN 2018-19 Flava Fresh! XIII, 3 different locations, Indianapolis Arts Garden, Indiana Interchurch Center, North College Public Library, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Off the Record, Rapp Family Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2018 SuperDuperQueer Art Show, IU Kokomo Main Street Gallery, Kokomo, IN 2018 Regeneration Indy 3 Year Anniversary, Art Bank, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Post It Show, Tube Factory, Indianapolis, IN 2017 Darrin Cooper CD Release Event, Fountain Square Brewery, Indianapolis, IN 2017 Six Ways to Sunday, Listen Hear, Indianapolis, IN 4
R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
2017 Mad Scientist Society Vol 1, Acceleration Art and Photography Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2017 Flava Fresh! XII, 5 different exhibitions, Arts Garden, Clowes Memorial Hall, North College Public Library, Ivy Tech, Indianapolis, IN 2017 Reflected Light 2017, A Mid-Summer Art Exhibition, Bread of Life Church, Avon, IN 2017 June Show, Fountain Square Brewery, Indianapolis, IN 2017 Red, The Stutz Artist Association, Indianapolis, IN 2016 Tiny Show V, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN 2016 Indiana Arts, Indiana Fair, Indianapolis, IN 2016-17 Flava Fresh! XIII, 3 different exhibitions, North College Public Library, Primary Colours, Indianapolis Arts Garden, Indianapolis, IN 2016 Reflected Light 2016, A Mid-Summer Art Exhibition, Bread of Life Church, Avon 2016 Wearable Show and Sculpture Exhibit, Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN 2016 Regeneration Indy, Featured Artist, Athenaeum, Indianapolis, IN 2015-16 Flava Fresh! XII, 5 different exhibitions, Clowes Memorial Hall, North College Public Library, Garfield Arts Center, Indiana Interchurch Center, Indianapolis Arts Garden, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Reflected Light 2015, A Mid-Summer Art Exhibition, Bread of Life Church, Avon, IN 2015 Wearable Show, Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Cracks in the Sidewalk, Madame Walker Theater, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Art Town, The Stutz Artist Association, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Artville, 5547 Project, Irvington, IN 2014 Tiny III, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN 2014-15 Flava Fresh! XI, 5 different exhibitions, Clowes Memorial Hall, North College Public Library, Fishers Town Hall, Indiana Interchurch Center, Indianapolis Arts Garden, Indianapolis, IN 2014 Chairity for The Villages, Lucas Estates Sports Pavilion, Carmel, IN 2014 Look / See Herron’s Biggest Night – Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN 2013 Chairity for The Villages, Lucas Estates Sports Pavilion, Carmel, IN 2013 Self Portrait Show, Gallery 924, Indianapolis, IN 2013 Look / See Herron’s Biggest Night, Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN 2012 Vanitas, the Sacred, and the Profane, Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis, IN 2011 Emerging Artist, the Gallery @ AUP, Greenfield, IN 2010 Test Fest, Skiles Test Nature Park, Indianapolis, IN
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R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Solo Exhibitions
2020 Midnight Therapy, Harrison Center, Indianapolis, IN 2019 First Friday, Palomino Restaurant, Indianapolis, IN 2019 Winter Show, Dry Bones Mud House, Indianapolis, IN 2018 Winter Show, Fountain Square Brewery, Indianapolis, IN 2018 June Show, Hampton Inn Lobby, Indianapolis, IN 2016 Midnight Therapy, Tinker Coffee Co., Indianapolis, IN
Public Art
2020-21 Artist Alley, Kokomo Art Association, Kokomo, IN 2019-20 Art Billboard, Indiana Arts Council, Indianapolis, IN 2019-20 Artist Alley, Kokomo Art Association, Kokomo, IN 2019-20 High Art Billboard Project, Indianapolis Arts Council, Indianapolis, IN 2018-19 Artist Alley, Kokomo Art Association, Kokomo, IN 2016 Pogues Run, Paramount School, Indianapolis, IN
Art Fairs
2018 Fall Creek Art Fair, Fall Creek Pop Up Gallery, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Midwest Bearfest Ursine Impossible, Clarion Waterfront, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Black Saturday Art Bazaar, United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Celebration Fall Creek, Fall Creek Public Space, Indianapolis, IN 2015 Coal Yard Music Festival, 5547 Project, Irvington, IN
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R.A. Buys (Ronald Andrew Buys) 909 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-366-8877 – [email protected]
Bio
R.A. Buys was born and raised in California. He moved to Indianapolis in the mid-90s. After a life changing moment where he died for 3 minutes following a suicide attempt in 2006, he developed a new appreciation for life that led him to go back to school. He chose to study Fine Art which stemmed from a longtime passion for art and being creative.
He earned his Associate Degree of General Fine Art at Ivy Tech Community College. Currently he is between semesters pursuing a Fine Art Degree in Sculpture at Herron School of Art and Design (IUPUI).
He loves to work with mixed media and found objects and is taking advantage of school to learn the basics of a variety of different mediums.
Currently he mainly chooses marking pens, paint pens, and oil paint where he has been working on a series of abstract and representational portraits, he calls his Midnight Therapy Series. Overall, through painting, photography, performance art, video documentation and mixed media he is trying to show his own particular view of the world.
On the side, he is learning from fellow artist Steve Redman, the process of art restoration and also volunteers’ his time with Regeneration Indy, an independent program that teaches art to youth.
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