2021 Senior Exhibition Artists

Kevin Ronan

Art + Design: Illustration

About Kevin Ronan

Kevin Ronan is a professional illustrator originally from Central New Jersey. He is a very driven and ambitious artist with a lot of skill and passion for creating new artistic experiences. Kevin has been interested in art ever since he got to see his grandfather painting at the kitchen table. He is interested in creating images that provide new experiences, beyond being aesthetically enticing. Through shock, laughter, or tears, he wants people to open their minds and see or feel something truly amazing.

Statement

My senior thesis started in so many different directions, but eventually found its path in Japanese folklore and streetwear. I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture from folklore, to architecture, to pop culture like anime, manga, and videogames and everything in between. I wanted to take Japanese Yokai (ghost, phantoms or strange apparitions) and combine them with things like skateboarding, tattoos, music, and anything else that really got my creative processes going. Next came the idea for how I wanted to represent such strange, unique, and interesting creatures. I eventually landed on the idea of a streetwear brand. Streetwear to me is a great way to express yourself and show off in a unique way. I wanted to put an interesting twist on everyday clothing, something to really make it pop. Then came the concepts for the designs, it’s simple: take a Yokai and something from the modern era, throw it in a creative blender and see what comes out, add a little flair and you can get some truly amazing ideas. The end result is the streetwear brand “Yokai Life ''.This brand to me not only represents my creative process but helps me truly explore the things I love, and experience them on a different level. Plus, I figured I would get some cool clothing out of it.