Ricardo V. Ruiz is an artist and publisher based in Richmond, VA. He completed his MFA at Virginia Commonwealth University. His studio practice is rooted in drawing and explores modes of painting and printmaking. He uses varied methods and genres of storytelling to explore themes of the human condition and our relationship to nature. Ricardo continues a visual storytelling tradition shared by his father, whose paintings document the history and folkloric wonders of the South Texas landscape. Ricardo makes images that address systemic corruption from the lens of fictional characters located in a distant future. Their role is to help regulate ecological systems within the format of fables. Their culture mirrors Indigenous groups from the Americas whose routine and identity emphasized a holistic relationship with biodiversity. Each work peers into their day-to-day routine intrinsically linked to the natural world and its systems. He pulls from a lexicon of characters from his personal lived experiences and research practice. His intention is to locate beauty and moments of metaphysical reconciliation amongst the daily struggle. Selected CV :Education2017 Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA. Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking2015 Texas A & M Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi, TX. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking Solo Shows2024 The Jesus Collector. Nail Salon Gallery. Brooklyn NY2021 Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz - New Paintings. Art Untitled. Curated by Annavittoria Conner. Oklahoma City, OK Co - Exhibitions2021 New Leaves - Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz & Zoe Kennedy. Anderson Gallery Virginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA2020 Letters from Home - Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz & Ricardo Ruiz the Elder.Office Space 2. New Brunswick, NJ2018 2017 Signals that Invoke a 100 Years of Blue Milk. Park Hyung Gi & Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz. George Mason University. Fairfax, VA Under the Flowers, Ricardo Vicente Jose Ruiz & Leyla Mozayen. ADA Gallery. Richmond, VA Awards2020 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship, Richmond, VA. Culture Works Grant Recipient. Richmond, VA2018 Burnaway Southern BIPOC Artist Grant. Atlanta, GA Vermont Studio Centers Residency – Harpo Fellowship. Johnson, VA Anderson Gallery Artist in Resident. Anderson Gallery. Richmond, VA Oxbow Residency Fellowship. Oxbow School of Arts. Saugatuck, MI Harpo Foundation Fellowship for Native American Artists Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship. Richmond, VA 1708 Gallery Artist in Resident. 1708 Gallery. Richmond, VA2017 National Endowment for the Arts Grant Public CollectionsStanford Special Collections LibraryGetty Research Institute LibraryWhitney Research LibrarySF Moma Special Collections LibraryUniversity of North Texas Special Collections LibraryKansas City Art Institute - Jannes LibraryPrinceton Special Collections LibraryUT Austin Special Collections LibraryUCLA Arts LibraryMexicarte Museum. Austin, TXVirginia Commonwealth University. Richmond, VA