Animals and Objects in and Out of Water: Posters by Jay Ryan, 2006-2008

The second book from the iconic Chicago underground poster artist, with a foreword by Andrew Bird and an essay by Joe Meno.

“Not only a gorgeous catalog of the artist’s many memorable posters, but a history of sorts of the Chicago underground rock scene in the last 15 years.” ―Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago postermaker Jay Ryan has been busy since the 2005 release of his book 100 Posters, 134 Squirrels (Akashic/Punk Planet Books), a collection of his favorite prints from the first decade of his work. Since the release of that book, he has honed his craft, continuing without the use of computers, and screen-printing the work in his shop called the Bird Machine for bands such as the Melvins, the Shins, Modest Mouse, Andrew Bird, Shellac, My Morning Jacket, the Decemberists, Low, Built to Spill, Tortoise, and hundreds of others.

This book features 120 of Jay Ryan’s favorite pieces of art from the last three years, including text about each of the prints, detail photos (shot at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago), and original drawings. With a foreword by Andrew Bird and an essay by best-selling novelist Joe Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned), this volume solidifies Jay’s position as one of the most unique postermakers in a thriving and exciting field.

JAY RYAN has been making screenprinted concert posters in Chicago since 1995. He learned to print at the now-legendary Screwball Press, and started his own print shop, The Bird Machine, in the basement of his apartment building in 1999. He served as vice president of the American Poster Institute from 2002–2007. In 2007, Crain’s Chicago Business included Ryan on their prestigious “40 Under 40” list, and the following year, Time Out Chicago named him a “Chicago Cultural Hero.” His books include 100 Posters/134 Squirrels, Animals and Objects In and Out of Water, and No One Told Me Not to Do This.