Ryan is a mixed race, Chinese American, award winning writer, director, photographer, producer and consultant based in Minneapolis.  A self taught artist, Ryan began his career working with individuals experiencing homelessness, children and families, and foster care youth, as well as in program development and affordable housing development.  He began documenting protests after the recession in 2008.  Ryan’s photos and films helped elevate narratives not seen in the mainstream media, and catalyzed his passion for documentary and narrative storytelling.  His background in social work and community organizing, and his relationships across communities make collaboration essential to his work, whether in creative projects such as filmmaking, or making space for connection, such as producing community events or program development.  Being in community, creating connections, and sharing stories with each other is what drives Ryan's work.

He has exhibited work at The Minnesota Museum of American Art, SOO Visual Arts Center, Gamut Gallery, Indigenous Roots Cultural Art Center, Third Place Gallery, and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.  Ryan's films have been screened across the country and the world.  He’s the recipient of the 2018 Artist Neighborhood Partnership with CURA at the University of Minnesota, the 2019 MN State Arts Board Cultural Community Partnership Grant, the 2021 and 2022 MSAB Artist Initiative Grant, as well as the MRAC Arts Impact Grant in 2024.  He was a 2020 Creative Community Fellow with National Art Strategies.  His film serenity won the Audience Award at the 2023 Twin Cities Film Fest and Best Short Film at The 2024 Portugal Indie Film Festival.  Ryan worked in collaboration with OSP Productions on the feature length documentary, Why We Dance, exploring Indigenous dance from the midwest, Hawai'i and Mexico, set to release fall 2025.    

For years Ryan was an educator working with middle school and high school students, as well as guest lecturing in university courses and in full time adjunct positions at Augsburg University.  Ryan is a founding partner of KangLi along with Kevin Volmers.  He is also the Photography, Moving Image and Film Advisor with Public Functionary, artist-led space to dream and live in a world where our multi-faceted identities are celebrated and centered and creative production is reparative and generous.  Ryan is the Director of Development and Partnerships with Cinefilmu, an immersive gathering & celebration for QTBIPOC film in Minnesota.  He is a mentor for Film Sparks at Mama Papaya, an immigrant-led nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing and empowering underrepresented filmmakers and storytellers in Minnesota. 

Ryan is the founder and manager of the Creating Change Gallery at Graves Foundation, a fellowship for emerging artists in Minneapolis.  He is also the secretary of the board of directors of African American Survivor Services a non profit working with individuals where they are at, on the street, to assess, empower, advocate and mobilize individuals, families, and communities.  Ryan’s wide range of experiences helps him support non-profit organizations and small businesses in analysis, development, strategy and growth.