“Philip’s photographs are really fantastic--they have a surreal, uncanny quality and make me think a bit of Eggleston, but in a decidedly 21st century context!”
— Emma Acker, Associate Curator of American Art, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, author of Cult of the Machine: Precisionism and American Art.
"His compelling visions stimulate the world to think!"
— F. Lanier Graham, former curator, Museum of Modern Art, New York, author of Goddesses in Art, Duchamp and Androgyny, and The Rainbow Book.
“Philip Ringler is an important contemporary artist. This is not praise I make lightly. Philip's work invites its viewer to reconsider the human condition and to discover new insights into our humor, vulnerability, best intentions, love, absurdity, and mortality. All this is done with a sense of what I call ‘Dark Whimsy,’ and an embracing care for humanity and the truth.”
— Dana Davis, artist, commercial photographer, professor emeritus Contra Costa College, former Director, Eddie Rhodes Gallery.
“Philip Ringler’s art often uses a deceptive combination of intelligent mischief blended with curiosity to comment on the Art/cultural issues of our times.”
—Greg Macgregor, Professor emeritus, California State University, East Bay, author of Deus Ex Machina, and Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Photographer's Trail.
Philip Ringler is an internationally exhibiting artist and arts educator with a background in conceptual photography, photojournalism, commercial photography, and curatorial work. With a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from John F. Kennedy University’s Arts and Consciousness Program and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography from California State University, East Bay, he brings both academic depth and professional expertise to his teaching and art practice.
Philip’s current work in fine art photography explores conceptual themes of simulation, artifice, and the philosophy of reality within the medium. His practice integrates political and cultural critique, drawing on his studies in philosophy, art history, and art theory, as well as his experiences living and traveling internationally.
A passionate and community-focused educator, Philip has taught photography at the university level from introductory courses to advanced studies, including studio lighting, film and darkroom techniques, digital photography, and graduate portfolio development. He has led photography programs for teens at public libraries and has remained a dedicated mentor to many students throughout their artistic careers. In addition to his teaching, Philip serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) and for the Orange Technical College Photography Department, further advancing his commitment to supporting arts education and cultivating photographic excellence in the community.
Collaboration has been a central force in Philip’s career, most notably in his long-running partnership with fellow artist James Saxon under the name Relaxing Realism. Since 2012, the duo has produced ambitious conceptual projects that explore themes of artifice, ritual, and the unstable boundaries of reality. Philip leads conceptual development and lighting design, while James brings expertise in engineering, fabrication, and experimental techniques such as pyrotechnics and mechanical triggers. Their work thrives on dialogue, with ideas evolving through constant exchange and experimentation, resulting in visually striking, philosophically rich images that push the boundaries of photography. This collaboration exemplifies the importance of creative partnership in Philip’s practice, underscoring how shared vision and diverse skills can generate work greater than the sum of its parts.
Philip’s artwork, both as an individual artist and collaborative work, is held in collections, galleries, and museums worldwide. Committed to continuous artistic exploration, he regularly exhibits at art fairs, museums, and private galleries, presenting new and ambitious work.
