• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Membership
  • Join

The Rock Poster Society

The Rock Poster Society (TRPS)

  • Artists
  • Rock Art By The Bay
  • Festival of Rock Posters
  • Atlanta Rock Poster Show
  • Mystery Tube
  • Resources

Jay Ryan

Jay Ryan - The Bird Machine

Jay Ryan learned about screenprinting from Steve Walters at Screwball Press in late 1995, where they worked together until 1999, at which point Jay started The Bird Machine print shop in the basement of his apartment building. Jay’s initial clients were his friends’ bands, his own band, and the clubs where they played. By stumbling into the right place at the right time, he fell in with a new movement of screenprinted poster makers across the country and around the world.

The business grew slowly and organically, with the gradual addition of printing assistants and an office manager. For five years, the printshop occupied a commercial space in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, before settling into a permanent home in quiet Skokie, Illinois.

Jay established a reputation for hand-drawn text and a computer-free design process. His prints aim to attain the same goals as other concert posters, but using raccoons and toasters instead of skulls, breasts and hot rods.

From 2002-2007, Jay served as Vice President of the American Poster Institute, a non-profit group which manages the successful FLATSTOCK series of poster shows.

Jay now draws and prints daily, and often travels to conferences and universities to show and speak about his work.

Jay lives in Evanston with his wife and daughter, one cat and one dog.

thebirdmachine.com


Poster Gallery

  • The Jesus Lizard New Year's Eve 12/31/09 Metro, Chicago, Illinois rock poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Pavement at Sasquatch! Music Festival 5/30/10 The Gorge, George, Washington rock poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Shellac Australian October 2012 Tour poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Moonrise Kingdom Mondo Oscar Night 2013 cinema poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Hideout Block Party / AV Fest 2013 event poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Victory and Associates, The Librarians, and Charmless 3/8/14 Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco, California
  • Regular Bears art print by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Now Is Our Time To Read art print by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Andrew Bird 7/28/17 Brooklyn, New York concert poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machin
  • Hum 2017 Fall Tour poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Vote No Gravity (Workshop Print 18) poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Regular Bears art print by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Goose Island Beer Company presents 312 Block Party featuring Jenny Lewis 9/20/19 rock poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Andrew Bird 7/28/17 Brooklyn, New York concert poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine
  • Pegboy Drive-In 30th Anniversary Show with Local H, Jake Burns, The Bollweevils 10/19/20 rock poster by Jay Ryan of The Bird Machine

100 POSTERS / 134 Squirrels Book – Updated Edition

This 118-page perfect-bound book was originally published in 2005, and was re-released in 2010 with a new cover, more commentary on each of the 100 posters, and some new photos.

  • Measures 9 x 9 inches.
  • Essays by Greg Kot, Debra Parr, Art Chantry, and Steve Albini.
  • Published by Akashic Books, New York.

Buy Now


Animals and Objects In And Out Of Water Book

Animals And Objects In And Out Of Water Book

This 144 page perfect-bound book collects my favorite work from 2005-2008, with over 100 posters, including text about each print, as well as an introduction by Andrew Bird and an essay by Joe Meno.

  • Measures 8 x 11 inches
  • Published by Akashic Books, New York

Buy Now


Notes

  • Guest speaker on TRPS Mystery Tube – Episode 7: Mark Arminski, Steve Walters, Jay Ryan.

Social Media

  • Facebook – ActualBirdMachine

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Footer

TRPS logo by Dave Hunter © The Rock Poster Society
Contact
PO Box 20309
Oakland, CA 94620

Twitter
Facebook
Facebook Group
Instagram
LinkedIn
LinkedIn Group
YouTube

Become a TRPS Member

Use of this site signifies your agreement to the PRIVACY POLICY and TERMS OF USE.

© 2008–2023 The Rock Poster Society. All Rights Reserved. · Log in

 

Loading Comments...