Multi-hyphenate creative Ryan Yee lives a life akin to that of a superhero—he’s a video game concept artist and illustrator by day, a seller of vintage furniture (and other things) via Instagram by night. Though, like many heroes, his two lives are opposite sides of the same coin. In the gaming world, he gets to design fashion, gadgets, lairs for criminals, and more, so it was in some ways natural for him to begin collecting storied pieces and offering his finds online. “It all goes back to the principals of design,” he said. “Light and composition, color and balance, shape and pattern—all these things I apply in my illustrations that translate into a sort of 3D composition when I’m doing interiors and things at my house.”
A Growing Collection of Vintage Furniture for Ryan Yee
Said house is a 750-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in Pittsburgh that was, in a former life, a dance studio. It’s full of a (mostly) changing selection of treasures in appealing tableaux from various trusted dealers. He keeps everything in the small-ish space from getting too chaotic by using rugs to anchor the furniture, and sticking to low-profile pieces that make the space appear larger.
He’s drawn to unique objects, things with a patina and that look like they have a story. “It gives the space more meaning and purpose, so it’s less like it’s from a big box store,” says Yee. His work has been noticed by, among others, Leanne Ford, who came to one of his pop-ups and now reaches out when doing projects. (He has also done work with local designers, Courtney Favini and Studio Lithe.)
How Ryan Yee Hunts for Treasures
He’s constantly on the lookout for one-of-a-kind objects and tends to prefer dealing with people who have larger collections, because he knows the lens they apply to one fabulous table or hand-made vase extends to other pieces. “My favorite is when it’s another artist, because they just have a different perspective of collecting,” says Yee. He prefers to have a decent-sized roster of sources so there’s a constant, potential flow of newness.
Specifically, Yee is drawn to handmade pottery—especially studio pottery—with unique glazes and from different countries, “I feel everyone makes pottery differently in different countries. And there is a history in the object,” he explains. Yee prefers muted tones and earth tones, but doesn’t limit himself, opting for color when it’s interesting, cool, unique. He loves to put things together in a way that elevates each piece by association.
“It takes a lot of time to develop a critical eye. And it’s also very personal. I think that’s why a lot of designers come to me,” adds Yee. Some vintage sellers he knows only look for name brands or pieces associated with specific artists. “For me,” he says, “It’s about whatever intrigues me—it can be anything from a tree pod to something that’s handmade.”
Getting Into the Interior Design Business
Yee’s business has expanded organically, and he has added styling to his resumé; he helps designers choose paint colors and vintage pieces, and then helps them to arrange everything within a space. He likens the process to a painting: the way you zoom into certain details can turn a simple home into an Architectural Digest moment.
For now, at least, Yee doesn’t feel the need to become a full-fledged interior designer, preferring to work with talented designers both locally and across the country—and getting the payoff of beautiful photos of his work. “I have the best of both worlds,” says Yee.
Story by Stephen Treffinger / Photography by Erin Kelly
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