Ricardo Ruiz (artist)

Ricardo Ruiz is a visual artist based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Biography

Ricardo Ruiz (also known as Ricardo Ruiz the Elder) was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he still resides.[1] Ruiz could draw before he could even talk and by the age of three he could draw on command.[2] His works are inspired by curanderismo, a traditional folk medicine of Mexico.[3] His paintings are similar in style, and he is influenced by, Hieronymus Bosch, Kerry James Marshall, and Gregory Gillespie.[4] Ruiz primarily works in oil, watercolors, and acrylic, and his paintings focus on Chicano culture, and his own family heritage.[5] His son, Ricardo V. Ruiz, is an artist and printmaker.[6] Richardo Ruiz the Elder has been working as an artist for over 35 years.[4]

Education

Ruiz obtained his bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1984 from Corpus Christi State University.[2] Twenty-two years later he returned to graduate school to get his master's degree in fine arts from Texas A&M, Corpus Christi in 2014.[7]

Artworks

One of Ruiz' well known pieces is his Love Songs for the Palomia, a painting of a grackle wearing a fez hat and in front of a bright green background.[1] He used a grackle as his subject because in Corpus Christi they would always be around him since he was a child.[8] However, he had never seen a dead one so it became an inside joke that grackles have the same longevity as humans which would also give them the same abilities to be civilized as well.[8] The word “Palomia” is slang for “people of the neighborhood” which Ruiz considers an endearing name for the people around him.[8] Many of Ruiz’ inspirations come from a blend of Renaissance art, Catholicism, folklore, and Mexican American culture.[1][8] Other artists Ruiz finds inspiring are Frida Kahlo, Gregory Gillespie, Thomas Hart Benton, Edward Hopper, and Donald Wilson.[8] His work is described as examining “the commonality of the life experience.”[1]

Exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

• 2015 at the Norman Artwalk inside the Dope Chapel.[9]
• 2019, There Is Something I Want To Tell You. The Narrative Paintings of Ricardo Ruiz, at the Martha Fenstermaker Memorial Visual Arts Gallery at Laredo College.[10]

Group exhibitions

• 1985 - Texas A&M University's Weil Gallery[2]
• 1986 - Art Museum of Southern Texas[2]
• 1999 - Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art[11]

Collections

Ricardo Ruiz's works can be found in the permanent collection of Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Texas A&M University Weil Gallery,[2] and the Art Museum of Southern Texas.[2]

References

1. "Ricardo Ruiz | Redbud Gallery | Houston". redbud-gallery. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
2. "Ricardo Ruiz the Elder". Full Court Press. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
3. Harpo Foundation (June 2018). "Ricardo Ruiz: Native American Residency Fellow".
4. "Ricardo Ruiz the Elder – CUCUY.STUDIO". Retrieved 2021-05-09.
5. Hackleman, Ester (November 27, 2015). "Corpus Christi Artists Share Family Legacy Through Art". Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
6. "Ricardo V. Ruiz". Artist Printmaker/Photographer Research Collection ● AP/RC ● Art Division of the Museum of Texas Tech University. 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
7. "Corpus Christi artists share family legacy through art". www.caller.com. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
8. Boyd, Robert. "Ricardo Ruiz's Neighborhood". Retrieved 2021-03-21.
9. "Interview: Corpus Christi artist Ricardo Ruiz". Oxford Karma. 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
10. "Laredo College". www.laredo.edu. Retrieved 2021-05-09.
11. Gonzales, Paul. "Cheech takes Chicano culture out of barrio and into mainstream". mysoutex. Retrieved 2021-03-21.