An alumna of the Lyme Academy of Fine Art in Lyme, Connecticut, Ruggiero studied figure and landscape painting in the classical tradition. Creating art has been a passion since she took her first class at the Lyme Academy in 1999. Her work has since evolved toward a contemporary realism that balances structure with atmosphere and an expressive use of color. She paints both from observation and imagination, often beginning with plein air studies that later develop into layered studio works. Ruggiero is especially inspired by the rugged coastlines of Monhegan Island and Port Clyde, Maine, where she spends time painting the shifting light and weather of the North Atlantic. Her figurative works and Florida golf series explore the quiet drama of human presence in the landscape—moments of focus, solitude, and grace within the natural world. Her award-winning figurative paintings have been recognized for their emotional depth and finely observed detail. In 2016, Ruggiero earned her master’s degree in Consciousness Studies, a turning point that deepened her inquiry into perception, presence, and the unseen dimensions of experience. “I’m interested in the space between things—the quiet moment where form and formlessness meet,” she says. “Painting becomes a meditation, a way to translate that awareness into visual form.” Ruggiero has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout New England, including Susan Powell Fine Art in Madison, Connecticut, where she was first represented in 2014. Her paintings are held in private and corporate collections across the United States. Education1999-2005 Drawing and Painting, Lyme Academy College of Fine Art, Old Lyme, CT Professional AssociationsElected Artist Member, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CTMadison Art Association, Madison, CT