# Ryan Gander argues art’s value lies beyond paintings and sculptures

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/it-was-hard-coming-after-the-shallow-egocentric-ybas-brilliantly-bolshie-artist-ryan-gander-lambasts-practically-everyone/
- Published: 2026-11-10T05:00:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-10T05:23:40+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/nov/10/ryan-gander-interview-shallow-egocentric-ybas-bolshie-artist
- Topics: Culture, Entertainment, Music, UK, World

## Key points

- Gander says art is about the ideas and feelings it inspires.
- His work spans objects, experiences and unconventional formats.
- His new Towner gallery show includes paintings despite his misgivings.

## Summary

British conceptual artist Ryan Gander argues that art’s value lies in the ideas, stories and feelings it creates, rather than in objects such as paintings and sculptures. His views challenge conventional expectations of what art should look like, even as his new exhibition includes paintings.

Gander’s work has ranged from treasure hunts and vending machines to sculptures and chess sets made from car parts. He says he has sold work throughout his 30-year career despite moving between styles, and criticises artists’ repeated reliance on flat, square formats; the exhibition is at Eastbourne’s Towner gallery.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.