Mahler B. Ryder, Jr. (1937-1992)

Mahler B. Ryder, Jr. was a faculty member in the Illustration Department of the Rhode Island School of Design from 1969-1992. His work spanned many genres, from illustration and graphic design to painting and sculpture. By the end of his life, he was best known for his assemblage and collage work based on African American history and music. A jazz pianist, Ryder’s later work was devoted to musicians and composers such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and George Benson. 

Ryder was born in Columbus, OH and attended the Columbus College of Art and Design and the Ohio State University. He also studied at the Art Students League and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Although he had some formal training, his education was sporadic – he took courses as he could afford them but never earned a degree beyond a high school diploma. 

Some of his major accomplishments include being a founder and first secretary of the Studio Museum in Harlem and a one-man show at the Whitney Museum, as well as numerous exhibitions in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is featured in Samella Lewis’s African American Art and Artists and was included in the Smithsonian’s Seeing Jazz: Artists and Writers on Jazz.

Ryder believed strongly in being connected to his local community. For example, he was a member of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. He donated large amounts of time to helping kids do art projects at the Providence Children’s Museum and the Providence Public Library. He also spearheaded the effort to locate and create a monument for the grave of artist Edward Bannister in the North Burial Ground in Providence in 1976. 

As an educator, Ryder championed students of marginalized identities. He also fought to diversify the RISD faculty. Despite push-back from those who did not understand or support his diversity efforts, he never wavered in his work. His tireless commitment to diversity and inclusion was recognized by RISD with a plaque and installation of a permanent piece of his work in the RISD Carr Haus building in 2011. In 2024 he was recognized by the RISD Black Student Alumni Association as one of the people integral to creating a welcoming space for Black students at RISD – a legacy that continues to impact the school today.