Artistic Odyssey into the Unknown: An Interview with Aryo, the artist merging everyday life with the supernatural

In this interview, we explore the creative world of Aryo, an artist who blends the ordinary with the supernatural. Known for his unique incorporation of UFOs into everyday scenes, Aryo's work invites viewers to ponder their place in the cosmos. Discover his inspirations, techniques, and the impact he hopes to make on the art world.

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Aryo, your paintings blend the everyday with the extraordinary, especially through the inclusion of UFOs. What initially drew you to explore ufology and the supernatural within your art ?

I fell in the rabbit hole of ufology right before the pandemic. I was interested in how some of it was tied into spirituality.

The idea that they’ve always been here trying to guide us and help us evolve seemed rad. When I first started painting with the airbrush, as a joke, I placed a ufo in one of my landscape paintings.

I did that for awhile and soon after I thought to myself that they sort of reminded me of religious paintings that I saw in museums. Eventually I started putting them in all of my paintings.

I figured it would be a good way to grab the viewer’s attention so that they might ask themselves questions about our place in the cosmos.

Can you walk us through your creative process, especially how you employ airbrushing techniques to achieve the dreamy, yet precise, quality of your works ?

I don’t use stencils or masking tape like many airbrush artists. I’m a little bit lazy in that way haha. But I also like the challenge it gave me when painting with the airbrush freehanded. I grew up skateboarding so the challenge was somewhat similar. But it never was my intention to make the paintings look dreamy. It just came out that way because of that technique which I liked, so I ran with it.

You've cited a range of artists, from Gerhard Richter to Ed Ruscha, as influences. How do each of these artists inform your work, and is there a piece of theirs that particularly resonates with you ?

I’ve always liked Richter’s landscape paintings. The quietness about them resonated with me.

And for me Ruscha’s works had the California cool and witty vibe to them. I just thought why not try and mash the two ideas in my paintings and see what happens. Haha.

Much of your oeuvre is deeply embedded in the urban landscape of Los Angeles. How do you believe the city's unique cultural fabric and subcultures have shaped your artistic vision ?

L.A. is the capital of skateboarding and the entertainment world. I think subconsciously that’s where it came from. Growing up skateboarding and watching movies definitely influenced me and my work.

Your airbrushing technique is central to your artistic process. Could you share more about your journey in mastering this medium? What challenges and triumphs have you encountered along the way?

I’ve only been painting with the airbrush for a few years now. I started using it during the pandemic. I think when the world stopped, It gave me a lot of time to work with the tool.

I don’t think I’ve mastered it and I don’t think I ever will. Like I said, I love the challenge. I think once I’ve mastered it, you won’t see anymore airbrush paintings from me. Haha.

Your work often invites viewers into a state of meditation on mystery and spirituality. How do you hope your explorations of ufology and extraterrestrial beings impact viewers' perceptions of reality and the beyond ?

To pause for a moment and forget some of the things you’ve been taught. To look within and to towards the sky. I hope some of my paintings influences that to the viewer.

In an age dominated by digital images, how does the internet and digital culture influence your selection of scenes and subjects ?

I love the internet. There’s an endless about of images to use and it’s constantly being updated with new material. So a lot of the time the images I use are based off formal decisions. It could be the subject matter, color pallet of the image and or the composition.

I try not to think too hard about it and just go with my artistic instincts.

Your pieces, like “Tempted to Touch” and “Contact High,” juxtapose intimate human moments with hints of otherworldly presence. What narratives or symbolic meanings are you aiming to convey through these juxtapositions ?

A lot of people have said they feel a familiarity to the works. A past experience or a memory that they might have had. But they also question if it actually happened to them or not.

I’d like to think we’re all part of one big collective consciousness and that might be the reason why my work does that.

Exhibitions like “This Too Shall Pass” not only showcase your paintings but also create immersive environments. How important is the multisensory experience in your exhibitions, and how do you construct these spaces ?

With “This Too Shall Pass” I wanted to try something different. It was sort of experimental. I had a sound piece that I made with my brother and I wanted activate the space and see how people would react while they were looking and not looking at the paintings.

The reminder that this is an experience and this experience will pass and another will happen. But to also pause for a minute and meditate on the experience you’re having at the moment.

Your work encourages a deep, experiential looking from the audience. How do you craft paintings that hold such an interactive quality, and what do you hope viewers discover through this engagement ?

To be honest, I’m not really sure. I like to think that the work has a life of it’s own and that it’s giving off it’s energy to the viewer. But also it might just be the way that it’s painted with the airbrush. The right amount of blur can keep the viewer focused. Haha.

Your deep dive into ufology has led you to explore how extraterrestrial beings influence religions and belief systems. How has this exploration affected your personal beliefs and philosophies ?

That we don’t know everything and that it can be a good thing. To humble ourselves and to know that the universe and how it reacts is beyond our control.

To remember to enjoy life’s mysteries.

How has your style evolved from your early works to your more recent exhibitions, such as “Unseen Realities” and “Over My Head” ?

I think it’s my interests and what I’m into at the moment. I like the idea that my life is in constant change. Nothing is ever really set. The idea “that this too shall pass” and to just be excited for what’s next.

Your paintings are described as cinematic, capturing daily life scenes with a twist. How does cinema influence your work, and are there any films or directors that inspire you ?

I like how cinema can take you somewhere visually. But with cinema you’re kind of guided to feel a certain way. Painting is a little open ended. It’s constantly exciting.

One day it can be boring and the next day it can make you feel a certain way. And vice versa. In terms of films and directors that inspire me, there’s too many to mention. Haha

Can you share insights into any upcoming projects or exhibitions you're particularly excited about ?

Right now I’m taking a little break and experimenting in the studio. I’m just excited to see what happens next.