Ruben Aira Jr

Every material I work
with carries its own story.
My job is to listen first
and figure out what it
wants to say.
Since settling on Oʻahuʼs North Shore in 1998, Ruben has
devoted his practice to exploring transformation: the way
material, memory, and emotion shift form when given care and
intention. His sculptures and paintings bridge utility and beauty,
industrial and organic, human and elemental.
Over the years, Rubenʼs hands have built roofs, sewn textiles,
designed graphics, and hauled crab pots in the Alaskan cold.
Every job taught patience, resourcefulness, and respect for
process — lessons that now live in his art.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Ruben Aira Jr. has lived many lives before
re- turning to his first one — as an artist. After immigrating to the
United States as a child, he grew up surrounded by makers:
family, friends, and neighbors who built their worlds by hand.
That early influence shaped his belief that creativity and
craftsmanship are one and the same.
To him, art is not about control or collaboration; itʼs a
conversation between maker and material, guided by intuition
and reverence for what already exists. His work has been featured in Modern Luxury.

2014 - 2026 Self-employed Fine artist displaying original works in Hawaiian
Galleries and exhibitions

2019 - 2020 HIonART Created 25 instructional videos on “How to
Carve a Surfboard” on TV Series. Lead
artist/actor in HIonART The Movie.

2016 - 2022 World Surf League Creator of the Vans Triple Crown, Hawaiian Pro,
and Haleiwa Challenger professional surf
championship trophies

2012 - 2014 Hilo Hatties Textile, product and general graphic design, and
company-wide visual merchandising, design
and prop construction

2005 - 2012 Hawaiiprint Art Director in charge of design, color ways and
oversight of Art Department

2003 - 2004 Warner Bros. Movie production artist, creating full-scale props
for the movie "The Big Bounce" (2004)

2003 - 2004 Signs Hawaii Creating and installing commercial signage Created the Hale`iwa Joes Signage Northshore and Kaneohe Haiku Garden

Past and current

Aug 8th 2024 through Oct 10th 2024
“Relics Series” Touching the skies Transformation “
May 8th 2024 through Aug 7th 2024
“Relics” The Journey with Sea Flowers
Private Reception Ocean Day Friday June 7th 2024 4PM
Jan 1st 2024 through May 7th 2024
“Noses Fins & Tails “ Introducing “Sea Flowers” Series Opening Reception Wednesday January 10th 2024 4PM
Aug 2023 “Visions” Exhibition till Sept 9th at Pauahi Tower Honolulu HI
June 9th 2023 through July 14th 2023
“Heart & Art “
Opening Reception Friday June 9th 2023 4PM HST
July 14th through Dec17 th 2023

Hawaii Surf Museum Collection Pop Up
Closing Holiday Reception Sunday Dec 17th 2023 4PM
March - Nov 2020: HIonART The Movie, Various locations, Honolulu, HI
July 2019: Friday Art Show, Bill Wyland Galleries, Lahaina, HI
June 2019: HIonART TV Series, Honolulu, HI
Dec 2019: WSL Vans Trophy Ceremony, Haleiwa, HI (SOLO)
Sep 2018: Silent Empowerment, Kaka’ako
Dec 2018: WSL Vans Trophy Ceremony, Haleiwa, HI (SOLO)
Nov 2018: Ruben Aira Jr., Bill Wyland Galleries, Lahaina, HI (SOLO)
July 2018: Ruben Aira Jr., Bill Wyland Galleries, Lahaina, HI (SOLO)
Feb 2018: Ruben Aira Jr., Provenza Galleries, Outrigger Reef Resorts, Waikiki, HI (SOLO)
Dec 2017: Waialua Community Ass...