Cindy Ruskin
Originally from South Africa, Cindy has a BA in Art History (Fine Arts) from Harvard and has studied painting in San Francisco and New York City.
Cindy devoted more than two decades to creative projects with low-income children in New York City, including a large mosaic she created for the Lower Eastside Girls Club.
In early 2020, Cindy moved to Connecticut to become a full-time artist. Cindy and her studio were featured in the ATH Studio Book 2, and her paintings have been published in many magazines.
In recent years, she exhibited her work online at the PxP Contemporary Gallery, the TMP Gallery, the Camelback Gallery, and the Arts to Hearts Project. Previously, Cindy's exhibits included a solo show in New York City, sponsored by ChaShaMa, and a one-week-long guest show at the Matthew Marks Gallery, benefiting the Duk Lost Boys Clinic in Sudan.
Artist Statement
I paint magical fairytale worlds and funny, uplifting stories that are full of light and dark twists, hidden meanings, and visual surprises.
I try to get to the heart of difficult emotional issues by treating them with a light, whimsical touch. The challenge is to find the right balance.
Even when I try to elicit a smile, I strive to touch something deep in the viewer’s psyche. With my paintings as portals into imagined, unknown places, maybe viewers will find something that brings them closer to the richness of their own inner worlds.
Contact
www.cindyruskin.com
cindy@cindyruskin.com
@cindyruskin_fineart
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
My surroundings are an infinite source of inspiration. When I lived in the city, the people, the neglected spaces between buildings, and the view out the window gave me ideas. Now that I live in the country, I’m inspired by nature. I’ve started walking around a lake near my home every morning. It’s a time to wake up all my senses—to feel and observe the sounds and smells of the day, allowing my mind to wander and discover.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
My mission is to access the imagination of anyone who sees my art. To do that, I blur the boundaries between reality and the supernatural and use color to heighten the emotional tension. Whether I am painting, drawing, or using mixed media, I always aim to convey a feeling of whimsy, mystery, and humor.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
I’m obsessive. It takes very little time before I’m fully immersed in a painting. Once I’m “in the zone,” I’m so lost in what I’m working on that time, the real world, and all my outside responsibilities disappear.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
I try to see my failures as opportunities to be more creative. Ever since childhood, I’ve learned to turn my unusual style of rendering (because of clumsiness and lack of manual dexterity) into a benefit. Now, viewers respond enthusiastically to the quirky imagery and iconography in my art.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I hope the optimism in my work is contagious. I want my paintings to guide viewers away from anxiety, allowing them to reconnect with their own playful, creative thoughts.
