Jada Ruiz
Art + Extended Media
In my art practice, I express raw emotions relating to childhood by using a wide variety of mediums. Whether it be naivety, confusion, sarcasm, or admiration, the narrative is of my own experience, or my interpretation of shared stories among my family. My work captures the growing pains of healing and maturing through life. Empathy is the driving force behind everything I create, and it is a gift that surpasses any artistic ability I am capable of. Just as art has taught me how to learn and grow, it has become my passion to share that with others.
Beers for Breakfast
48″ x 24″
House paint on Masonite
Beers for Breakfast addresses how addiction and behaviors are learned and passed down through generations. The upbeat tone contrasts with the serious subject matter, using dark humor to imply the way harmful habits become normalized and encouraged to impressionable youth. The work highlights the absurdity of these inherited behaviors, while offering a reflection of the importance of breaking generational cycles of bad choices.
Forgive the American Man
48″ x 16″
House paint and enamel paint on wood
Forgive the American Man critiques the tendency to excuse negative traits as inherent to gender and societal norms, using humor to challenge the idea of “boys will be boys,” and how that impacts adulthood. The rough and tattered look of the artwork reflects the idealization of roughness and toughness in men, while the lettering swings with persuasion. The work highlights the importance of accountability over excusing bad behavior.
DysFUNction
24″ x 48″
House paint and enamel paint on masonite
DysFUNction is the event we have all attended and dreaded. This work appropriates the Googie style architecture from the 1930’s, while commenting on the common experience of dysfunction. Rather than masking this event with flashy colors, it is presented with the same aesthetic that was used for decades to cover it up. This approach highlights the humor and absurdity in attempting to hide something so universally recognized.
