Daniel Ribar is a multidisciplinary artist based in Detroit, Michigan.
Ribar believes we have more control over how we experience life and construct meaning than we often realize. Through his work, he encourages a rethinking of our default ways of processing and operating in the world around us.
Leaning on the familiar and the habitual as avenues for discovery, his current work examines humanity through exploring the everyday and the known object. He investigates not only his reasoning and interactions with the world but also the experiences of others, drawing insight from observations in diverse settings—from gas station waiting lines to presidential campaign rallies, and everything in between.
Ribar holds a BFA from the College for Creative Studies and is currently pursuing an MFA at Cranbrook Academy of Art.
Ribar has served as a returning guest lecturer at institutions such as the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the College for Creative Studies, Cranbrook Academy of Art, and Wayne State University.
His work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Bloomberg Business, i-D, C41 Magazine, IGNANT, Fisheye Paris, and more.
Education
MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 2023-2025
BFA, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, 2006-2010
Email - Danielribarphoto@gmail.com
734.968.5288
Statement 12.23.24
The clock in my bathroom has been lagging for a month due to weak batteries. Knowing I can’t rely on it somehow makes me more aware of time passing as I shower. I seem to understand the weight of a minute better. Does the clock still help me know time in this way? What defines a functioning object?
I’m interested in how we construct meaning from the everyday.
Ordinary materials and objects serve as access points into my work, I aim for inclusion. I’m interested in the overlap between the capital A art world and the everyday world. I want people to reflect on what’s hidden in plain sight.
I make work that feels real and rooted in the world I inhabit. The everyday experiences: gas station waiting lines, parking lots, and grass so tall it stalls out the lawnmower.
Ultimately, my work is a way to stay organized, grounded, and engaged with the world around me. My practice is another form of mediation. I study the small details that pave the way for the larger ideas. I learn by reexamining what I think I know.