Ryan Strand creates artwork to evoke a sense of wonder in those who look upon it. He uses many different types of branches to sculpt and weave his intricate and varied works. Often mimicking or mirroring common forms from nature, Strand’s work intentionally brings about different ideas in different people.

A self-taught artist, Strand has always been drawn to the outdoors and to food. This led, in college at The Evergreen State College, to his pursuit of sustainable agriculture. After arriving in Paonia, CO a year later he began the Elsewhere Community Garden at Elsewhere Studios, an artist residency program in town. Through this involvement, he got his first taste of bending sticks while working on a community art project there in 2013. Since then, he has been refining his craft and developing his own personal style.