The Tree of Life (2006) is one of Mark Ryden’s most recognizable paintings from his 2007 exhibition “The Tree Show” that opened at the Michael Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles. The artist was deeply inspired by the tree, noting that “the tree goes beyond being a mere symbol of the universe and is actually an echo of how reality is shaped. I see this pattern of the tree everywhere.” The tree is significant in many religious and spiritual contexts. In Buddhism, for instance, the Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree. Specifically, The Tree of Life is a symbol of spiritual growth, and in The Tree of Life Ryden draws inspiration from different cultures. The Kabbalist Tree of Life is a means through which one can connect with the divine source. Yaxche, the Mayan Tree of Life unites between the three realms, the underworld, the earth and the heavens.

The Tree of Life is a static composition that draws the viewer’s attention to the female figure standing on top of the tree. The feminine and delicate figure is reminiscent of earlier works such as A Dog Named Jesus (1997), and Jessica’s Hope (2001), in which Ryden distorted the figures by enlarging their heads and eyes. In The Tree of Life, the childlike princess is surrounded by bees, holding a baby in one hand and a flower in the other. The visual relates to popular subjects in Christian art, such as traditional imagery of the Madonna and Child and the Coronation of the Virgin. There are two figures at the bottom of the tree, a bear on one side and a king on the other. These possibly symbolize the relationship between man and nature, which is one of the main themes addressed in “The Tree Show”. Ryden emphasizes that while in ancient times man believed he was a part of nature, in the contemporary world man is alienated from nature, mainly engaging with it like a tourist - visiting zoos or nature parks. The paintings of “The Tree Show” serve as symbolic souvenirs, similar to the pennants that the artist collected as a child.

In The Tree of Life, Ryden creates a complex network of symbols: the dodecahedron with unidentifiable script located on the right side of the treetop, the human eye at the center of the tree trunk and the skull in the grass right next to a vertical slit in the tree. One interpretation suggests that the vertical slit resembles a vulva, and next to the skull the two symbols emphasize the contrast between life and death. However, Ryden deliberately avoids revealing the specific meanings behind these symbols. He explains that his art can provoke powerful meanings and connections that even he himself is not conscious or aware of. The Tree of Life was featured in the 2010 exhibition “The Artist’s Museum, Los Angeles Artists 1980-2010” at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles. The inclusion of the painting indicates Ryden’s contribution to the development of the Los Angeles art scene since the founding of MOCA in 1979.