B orn into a collecting family with an illustrious presence in the arts, Ryan Brant was raised in an environment of creativity and aesthetic stimulation. The Collection of Ryan Brant is a careful assemblage which provides perspective for other collectors to experience the cutting-edge aesthetic environment in which Brant lived.
Brant has exerted an unsurpassed influence on his generation’s adaptability to technological innovations and interactive aesthetics. Ever a forward thinker, Brant founded Take-Two Interactive, a powerhouse in the video-game industry, which transformed the perception of gaming in the 1990s and continues to be a leader in the industry today. His collection and his work all speak volumes to Brant’s understanding of the contemporary visual experience.
Take-Two Interactive, and its subsequent acquisitions, developed many of the world’s most recognized and influential video games such as the Grand Theft Auto series, and more recently, Red Dead Redemption.
The nascent years of Brant’s collecting ran parallel with his budding career. When he left the company in 2007 Brant's tastes were clearly sculpted through the eyes of a video-game designer with a knack for colorful character-driven compositions and post-pop imagery. Keeping up with a changing market, Brant shifted his focus and began collecting a variety of artists and designers in depth.
An early collector and advocate for KAWS and avant-garde designers, Brant developed a collection that is not only highly graphic and colorful, but also one that reflects the depth and knowledge of the contemporary landscape. His discerning eye for quality and thoughtful approach led him to bring together works that are in constant conversation with one another. Seen together, his works create a vibrant atmosphere that offers a glimpse into the way Brant viewed the world, and his dual passions for art and gaming.
Ryan Brant’s collection may be understood as an expression of how he formed his identity as a collector, a visionary, and an entrepreneur. Encompassing some of the most innovative and celebrated artists and designers of the twentieth century, Game On: The Collection of Ryan Brant highlights his immense creativity and whimsy – a tribute to the imaginative man who brought these works together.
