Argument: Why Ryan Seslow’s Art Changes the World’s Perspective – The Power of Communication: 5.3
Ryan Seslow’s work highlights many social issues, including accessibility, communication, and the understanding of human emotion. His work, such as murals, sculptures, American Sign Language artwork, and digital projects, explores numerous ways to adapt to the design world. Despite using his charismatic design to capture moments, Seslow remains an underrepresented artist, reflecting challenging art styles, for example, street art. His work needs to be brought into the spotlight so his voice for design can transform spaces, perspectives, and social awareness more into the real world. Art is a very powerful source to represent the world, but also to reform it. By targeting specific audiences such as the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities, Seslow creates inclusive spaces where individuals do not feel invisible, illuminating issues often overlooked by society.As a Deaf artist, Seslow creates a perception: “Communication struggles that I experience daily.” His series of animations translates these experiences into visual language, motion, texture, and looping sequences, allowing audiences who feel misunderstood to realise that they’re connected. The visual communication becomes a metaphor, a bridge between two worlds, helping those who aren’t aware to have insight into these situations. Through these animations, Seslow demonstrates how underrepresented experiences can be communicated globally.
(https://www.ryanseslow.com/2018/06/04/communicating-my-deafness-part-1/)Inclusion Through ASL and Street Art
Communities feel more empowered as they create street art that juxtaposes awareness with the destruction of invisibility, implying that Deaf culture belongs in public spaces. By visually spelling out words like “graffiti” as a new form of communication, Seslow creates dialogue between street culture and language, showing that communication itself can be a public, shared experience. Meaning underrepresented communities can reclaim space: “Art becomes a voice. A record of language deprivation, identity reclaimed, and joy built through shared communication.”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/565218893829369/posts/2575383906146181/
https://www.ryanseslow.com/american-sign-language-asl-in-public-space-graffiti-culture-and-connection/Connecting with Major Brands: Magnifying Accessibility
The significance of Seslow’s murals at JFK Airport Terminal 4 and Union Market, Washington D.C., demonstrates the importance of collaborations with major brands like Starbucks in promoting inclusion and accessibility. By collaborating, his work reaches audiences who may not have known about sign language, accessibility, or Deaf culture. These murals are more than art; they’re inclusive public spaces where underrepresented voices are seen and heard. Seslow acknowledges, “we’re not going to solve all of the problems around inclusion, accessibility, and disabilities in one mural,” but by collaborating with well-known companies, he thinks it can spark conversations about accessibility and normalise inclusive practices.
https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2024/deaf-artist-hopes-mural-at-dc-starbucks-starts-conversations-about-inclusion-accessibility/
(https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/05/15/my-mural-for-starbucks-at-union-market-washington-dc/
(https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/07/02/brooklyn-in-transit-the-starbucks-jfk-terminal-4-mural/)Expanding Communication Through Digital Media
The diverse possibilities of different forms of content link directly to Seslow’s animations, where hidden meanings allow anyone to relate to everyday experiences. In the book Media, Culture and Society by Paul Hodkinson (The Meditation of Everything): “The diverse possibilities of different forms of content or platforms, alongside the active role of users in appropriating technologies for their own ends, remind us how the expansion of media platforms can offer opportunities as well as challenges.”
(https://bookshelf-ref.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781529679793/epubcfi/6/50[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Ds9781529675016.i1685]!/4/2[s9781529675016.i1685]/14[s9781529675016.i1724]/8[s9781529675016.i1734]/16/1:1193[nti%2Cal%20])Through his designs, Seslow communicates in ways that make viewers feel understood, turning visual storytelling into a method of both control and connection. By sharing this work with the world, he enables audiences to form communities, express opinions, and engage in shared spaces, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together. This demonstrates how underrepresented Seslow is, and even when he has the experience, it feels more real and more noticed when made into larger artwork such as murals for larger company projects or social media.Overall, Ryan Seslow’s use of visual communication technology acts as a form of “consciousness,” creating immersive experiences for those who cannot experience the real thing, and making human experiences more accessible as technology evolves. By consistently going out of his way as an underrepresented artist to ensure the creative process reflects these values for inclusion, storytelling, and communication, he teaches students and audiences to look out forthe hidden meanings of the world and the importance of representation in all forms of media.
(https://www.ryanseslow.com/about-contact-me/)References (Harvard, Alphabetical Order)Facebook, 2025. Art becomes a voice. A record of language deprivation, identity reclaimed, and joy built through shared communication. [online] Posted on ABCs by ABC: Deaf Culture, “Day 18: Culture Spotlight”, 19 September 2025 at 3:00 by A ßret Comyn. https://www.facebook.com/groups/565218893829369/posts/2575383906146181/Hodkinson, P., 2025. Media, Culture and Society: The meditation of everything. Conclusion. [online] “The diverse possibilities of different forms of content or platforms, alongside the active role of users in appropriating technologies for their own ends, remind us how the expansion of media platforms can offer opportunities as well as challenges.” https://bookshelf-ref.vitalsource.com/reader/books/9781529679793/epubcfi/6/50[%3Bvnd.vst.idref%3Ds9781529675016.i1685]!/4/2[s9781529675016.i1685]/14[s9781529675016.i1724]/8[s9781529675016.i1734]/16/1:1193[nti%2Cal%20]Seslow, R., 2015. Concrete to Data. [online] CONCRETE TO DATA HAS ENDED, IN THE PHYSICAL SPACE, 21 March 2015. https://www.concretetodata.comSeslow, R., 2018. Communicating My Deaf & Hard of Hearing Self – Part 1. [online] Jun 4, 2018 | Animation, Art, Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Digital Art, Exhibition, GIF, News, Useful Articles / Essays. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2018/06/04/communicating-my-deafness-part-1/Seslow, R., 2020f. ASL in Public Space: Graffiti, Culture & Connection. [online] https://www.ryanseslow.com/american-sign-language-asl-in-public-space-graffiti-culture-and-connection/Seslow, R., 2024. The Metaphor of the Fog. [online] Jun 6, 2024 | Art, Exhibition, News, Photography, Useful Articles / Essays. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2024/06/06/the-metaphor-of-the-fog/Seslow, R., 2025a. Animated GIF Series from the VR Studio (2023–2025). [online] May 8, 2025 | Animation, AR/VR, Art, Digital Art, Exhibition, GIF, NET ART, News, Video Art. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/05/08/animated-gif-series-from-the-vr-studio-between-analog-and-digital-worlds/Seslow, R., 2025b. My Mural for Starbucks at Union Market, Washington DC. [online] May 15, 2025 | Art, Design, Drawings, News, Painting, Press, Useful Articles / Essays. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/05/15/my-mural-for-starbucks-at-union-market-washington-dc/Seslow, R., 2025c. Brooklyn in Transit: The Starbucks JFK Terminal 4 Mural. [online] Jul 2, 2025 | Art, Design, Digital Art, Drawings, Exhibition, News, Painting, Press, Street Art & Graffiti. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/07/02/brooklyn-in-transit-the-starbucks-jfk-terminal-4-mural/Seslow, R., 2025d. New Sculpture Installation – Brooklyn Wine Company. [online] Sep 13, 2025 | 3D, Art, Exhibition, News, Press, Sculpture, Street Art & Graffiti. https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/09/13/new-sculpture-for-the-brooklyn-wine-company/Seslow, R., 2025e. An Ocean in Your Sky. [online] “An Ocean in Your Sky” 2022–2023, by Ryan Seslow. https://www.ryanseslow.com/an-ocean-in-your-sky/Seslow, R., 2025g. Simulation Default – Exhibition. [online] https://www.ryanseslow.com/2025/04/09/simulation-default-curation-from-the-2016-2017-vault/Seslow, R., 2025h. Tesseract Aesthetics – Exhibition. [online] Apr 9, 2025 | Animation, Art, Digital Art, Exhibition, GIF, News. https://aremes-enterprises.com/uncategorized/tesseract-aesthetics-an-exhibition-2025/Seslow, R., 2025i. Xeroxed. [online] @ryanseslow, 2025. https://www.ryanseslow.com/xeroxed/Seslow, R., 2025j. About & Contact Me. [online] https://www.ryanseslow.com/about-contact-me/Starbucks, 2024. Deaf Artist Hopes Mural at DC Starbucks Starts Conversations About Inclusion & Accessibility. [online] Feb 15, 2024, by Michael Ko / Video by Connor Surdi. https://about.starbucks.com/stories/2024/deaf-artist-hopes-mural-at-dc-starbucks-starts-conversations-about-inclusion-accessibility/