Earl Michael Ripling, Artist, Photographer, Sculptor, Writer, Collector, Husband, Brother, Son, Uncle, Cousin, Friend was born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 5, 1950, raised in Flossmoor, IL, a south suburb of Chicago and died July 31, 2022, in Boynton Beach, FL. From an early age Earl loved art. It inspired him and offered him a means with which to explore his imagination and his world with unflinching curiosity. Earl often told the story that as a college student his scientifically oriented father challenged his artistic pursuits. He couldn’t understand art’s purpose and worried what type of career his son might pursue. So when his mother replied to his father “but Ed, he is getting straight A’s!” in his art classes his father’s objections abated. Earl grew up in the sleepy, south-Chicago suburbs and ventured to the big city for excitement and exploration. When told that there was an even bigger city than Chicago Earl packed his stuff and hitched a ride to NYC, the magical metropolis that promised artistic opportunity and success. He hung out downtown in the galleries and clubs of the NYC art scene initially plugging in to the community through his own photography, videos and screenplays. He was invited to participate in the Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Program (ISP) as well as being selected for NCA grants. During this time, he met gallery owners and artists and earned a living by photographically documenting the work of others, painters, sculptors, actors as well as for gallery owners, art collectors and museums. Over time his photography career expanded from documenting the art of others to the creation of his own conceptual art. Earl loved telling stories and photography was the language in which he thrived. Clients included The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, CHANEL, Origins, Smith Barney and numerous advertising, editorial, graphic design and corporate firms. His work conveyed the world as he saw it; multi-dimensional, multi-layered, mutable and unpredictable. Before the ubiquity of Photoshop Earl employed the simple-to-understand yet difficult to execute techniques of combining images using multiple cameras and projectors to achieve his desired and serendipitous results. Earl was a gentle, kind, creative man who met every challenge with curiosity and determination. He is survived by his wife Meryl Yoss, his sister Nancy Ripling Buchko, nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends who love and adore him. He was pre-deceased by his parents Dr. Edward Ripling, Marcella Ripling and his older brother James Martin Ripling, who passed away 12 days before Earl’s death. Funeral Wednesday August 3rd, 11 AM at Beverly Cemetery, 12000 Kedzie Ave, Blue Island, IL. Family and friends who cannot attend the funeral can view the service on Earl’s webpage on www.mitzvahfunerals.com live, or anytime after the service. Info 630-MITZVAH 630-648-9824