Cindy Ruskin

I'm an oil painter and mixed media artist, now based in New York City and born in South Africa.

Each of my paintings is an exploration in which unplanned dream worlds emerge as I paint. I often start by creating an abstract painting of an imaginary forbidding environment – a swirling ocean, a looming forest, or a dark cave. Then I explore the dark space by removing bits of paint (with rags drenched in oil and turpentine) to find the lights – to discover the glen in the forest, the islands in the ocean, or life in the cave. After I uncover stories in the lights and darks, I populate these imaginary worlds with little embellishments – flora, fauna, people and festivities – magical civilizations that were there, waiting to be discovered.

My mixed media works create three-dimensional surreal environments from foils, found objects, recycled plastics and other materials. I also work with gold leaf, encaustics, animation, book arts, and collage.

As a supplement to creating my own art, I've worked on several projects with the low-income children in New York City, using art to teach and build community. I made a mosaic for the Lower East Side Girls Club, and I was the art director of Lower East Side Bike Parade where I ran works...

Harvard University, AB, Art History (specializing in historic materials and methods)

Also, studied at:
- San Francisco Art Institute
- California College of Arts and Crafts
- The San Francisco Art Academy
- The Center for Book Arts, New York
- Art Students League, New York

RECENT

2020: Fergus McCaffrey Gallery, New York City, group show, benefit for the Lower East Side Girls Club

SOLO SHOWS

2010: Chashama Arts, New York City, inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson

2006: Matthew Marks Gallery, New York, benefiting the Duk Lost Boys Clinic in Sudan

GROUP SHOWS

New York City:
- Lincoln Center
- The Center for Book Arts
- Umbrella Arts Gallery
- The Pen and Brush Gallery
- Art Students League

Santa Rosa, CA:
- The California Museum