Patricia "Patty" Ryan

1967 - 2025

Patricia "Patty" Ryan
08/15/1967 - 08/05/2025
Patricia Ryan, a San Francisco resident for over 30 years and a visionary designer, artist, and entrepreneur, passed away unexpectedly on August 5, 2025, at the age of 57. Her sudden departure is a profound loss to her family, colleagues, and the San Francisco creative community she so gracefully enriched.

Known for her vibrant energy, fearless spirit, and boundless imagination, Patricia left a lasting mark on the worlds of art, design, music, real estate, and wellness. A lifelong innovator, she co-founded Wonderfeel Biosciences in 2019, where she served as Chief Wonder Maker and creative lead. She always believed that wellness should be accessible, and she infused that belief into everything she touched, from brand identity to product experience.

Patricia was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in a close-knit, loving family of six. She cherished her parents and siblings, drawing particular inspiration from her mother, the family's primary breadwinner and a devoted parent. Patricia followed an unconventional career path, becoming an entrepreneur at just 19 when she opened a boutique in Minneapolis. Soon after, she struck out on her own to Chicago, ready to conquer the world in her own way. A true trailblazer in house music, Patricia helped bring the once-underground genre to a wider audience. She went on to co-create the iconic Mushroom Jazz label, produce hundreds of events nationwide, and design more than 100 album covers for OM Records, where she remained a partner.

Patricia's medium of art was light. Through her studio, DSNER, she crafted LED-based works that combined photography, custom algorithms, and intelligent lighting. She also created genre-defining album artwork and bold brand identities that pushed boundaries.

Patricia was a deeply engaged member of the Burning Man community, where she built large-scale installations on the playa. Since 2007, she has been a core contributor to some of Burning Man's most celebrated works, including Peter Hudson's hypnotic zoetropes. Her presence and artistry left a lasting imprint on every space she touched.

Her adventurous spirit extended far beyond her work. Patricia lived fully and fearlessly, racing motorcycles, snowboarding, kitesurfing, and always seeking the next creative challenge. She passed away during a business trip while working on a new sustainable packaging initiative.

Patricia is survived by her husband and longtime collaborator, Baran Dilaver, her siblings, and a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and admirers whose lives she transformed through her work, her spirit, and her presence.

Her luminous legacy lives on - in art, in innovation, and in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

Memorial:
Convergence in Patricia's Light
Friday August 15, 7:30 PM
SFMoma
Atrium + Wattis Theater
151 Third St.,
San Francisco, CA 94103