The master nudist photographer Ryan McGinley returns to San Francisco, for his third solo show at the Ratio 3 Gallery.

The exhibit features the artist’s first series of full-color studio portraiture. Hundreds of unique portraits fill Ratio 3’s vast Mission Street space location pasted directly onto the walls, giving the show a palpable feel. The majority of McGinley’s previous portrait work was displayed in black and white but the Yearbook series is comprised of vibrant purples, pink, violet, blue, red, green, orange, and brown hues furthering the corporeality of the work. The use of shocking color juxtaposed with the tones of human flesh and personality gives personal insight to each of his subjects comprised of poets, musicians, artists and free spirits. In 2003, at the age of 25, the artist was one of the youngest artists to have an individual show at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and he continues to make history with this brilliant new show.

New York band Holy Shit performed during the show’s opening. Below, watch the band do Peter Perrett’s track ‘Woke Up Sticky’, mixed with footage from the show’s installation and opening.

Words: Yohana Lebasi