"Miguélàngel Ruíz, born in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico and working out of New York City, is an artist who creates a contemporary mythology based around the vejigante character and his cultural heritage. Ruíz is currently working in video and performance. In his paintings and comic books, he portrays his protagonist "Awutok-Thon, El Vejigante-Luchador" as a man transformed into a demon who uses his power to fight for justice, truth and freedom. Through fusing mythology and graphic novels, he has created a universe where he can comment on the power's corruptive qualities and bring historical events to light in a way that is easily digested by popular culture."
- Rafael Damast, Curator at El Taller Puertorriqueño |
“Puerto Rican-born Miguelangel Ruiz creates a hybrid comic-heroic character based on his country’s popular culture, as a way of reflecting on his own sense of displacement.” -Nuit Banai, TimeOut New York, NY
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RESUMÉ, EXHIBITIONS HISTORY, PERFORMANCES, PUBLISHED WORK, AWARDS
MIGUÉLÀNGEL (miky) RUÍZ
1441 PARKER STREET #1C BRONX, NY 10462
(718) 792-9675
mikyruiz@yahoo.com
BIO:
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Miguélàngel (miky) Ruíz has been working as an independent Visual Artist for several years. He has been involved in the field of Visual Arts in various capacities: Painter, Writer, Gallery Assistant, Exhibition Coordinator, Visiting Curator, Illustrator, Adjunct Professor, Art Instructor, Digital Video Artist, Freelance Artist, and Arts Consultant. He has participated in numerous exhibitions and events at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, El Museo del Barrio, Exit Art, Rush Arts Gallery and Resource Center, Art In General, Taller Boricua Gallery at Julia DeBurgos Latino Cultural Center, El Taller Latinoamericano, The International Center in New York, United Nations Staff Recreational Council, Boricua College, Yeshiva University, Bronx Council on the Arts, M-13 Gallery, Westbeth Art Gallery, Gallery 128, Gallery X, Lehman College Art Gallery, Queens College- Extension Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, Jerome L. Greene Space, Cooper Union, Anthology Film Archives, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Longwood Arts Project, and Fashion Moda. Mr. Ruiz has participated in traveling exhibitions and projects exhibited in New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Argentina, Turkey, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Austria. He has collaborated on music videos and experimented with digital imagery through video, motion graphics, and printed matter. Mr. Ruiz currently serves as Art Instructor to children after-school and seniors at schools and community centers in New York City. His recent works of Art have evolved as an exploration of his sense of displacement within the American diaspora. He has been working in multimedia to develop ideas concerning Puerto Rican culture and its place within the broader American art scene by using elements from caribbean folk-lore combining them with traces of pre-columbian artifacts and modern contemporary aesthetics and story-telling and transforming them into art forms such as comic books, costumes, masks, installations and performances. As a thematic title he has branded this body of work as Mythography Comics.
1441 PARKER STREET #1C BRONX, NY 10462
(718) 792-9675
mikyruiz@yahoo.com
BIO:
Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Miguélàngel (miky) Ruíz has been working as an independent Visual Artist for several years. He has been involved in the field of Visual Arts in various capacities: Painter, Writer, Gallery Assistant, Exhibition Coordinator, Visiting Curator, Illustrator, Adjunct Professor, Art Instructor, Digital Video Artist, Freelance Artist, and Arts Consultant. He has participated in numerous exhibitions and events at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, El Museo del Barrio, Exit Art, Rush Arts Gallery and Resource Center, Art In General, Taller Boricua Gallery at Julia DeBurgos Latino Cultural Center, El Taller Latinoamericano, The International Center in New York, United Nations Staff Recreational Council, Boricua College, Yeshiva University, Bronx Council on the Arts, M-13 Gallery, Westbeth Art Gallery, Gallery 128, Gallery X, Lehman College Art Gallery, Queens College- Extension Center, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, Jerome L. Greene Space, Cooper Union, Anthology Film Archives, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Longwood Arts Project, and Fashion Moda. Mr. Ruiz has participated in traveling exhibitions and projects exhibited in New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Argentina, Turkey, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Austria. He has collaborated on music videos and experimented with digital imagery through video, motion graphics, and printed matter. Mr. Ruiz currently serves as Art Instructor to children after-school and seniors at schools and community centers in New York City. His recent works of Art have evolved as an exploration of his sense of displacement within the American diaspora. He has been working in multimedia to develop ideas concerning Puerto Rican culture and its place within the broader American art scene by using elements from caribbean folk-lore combining them with traces of pre-columbian artifacts and modern contemporary aesthetics and story-telling and transforming them into art forms such as comic books, costumes, masks, installations and performances. As a thematic title he has branded this body of work as Mythography Comics.
EDUCATION
1993 M.F.A. CUNY Hunter College 1991 B.F.A. SUNY College at Purchase EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 2015-present Art Consultant at Institute for the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Elderly and New York City Department for the Aging providing Creative Arts Workshops for resident seniors. Art Instructor at the Anne Frank Center, USA at the Jonas Bronck Public School 43, NY Design and implement 10 session Lesson Plans, a workshop in the Visual Arts: 1. Using Anne Frank's Diary as a model children create their own painted "Artist Books" culminating in an installation and exhibition at the School. 2. Using content from the Diary of Anne Frank as motivation children create self-portraiture in various media culminating in an exhibition at the School. 1998-Present Visual Arts Consultant with N.Y.C.H.A. Community Operations providing Arts classes in Community Centers throughout New York City. Responsibilities include installation of Art exhibits, Museum tours, preparing lesson plans and staff development workshops. 2007-2010 Mosholu Montefiore Community Center as After-School Art Instructor at Middle School 142 with focus on Portfolio Development for the art student, and designing stage props and back-drops for student shows. 2006-2007 Unity Neighborhood Center and Manhattan Art Program as After-School Art Instructor in Public Schools 87 and 89 in the Bronx. 1997-2003 Studio-in-a-School Association as Teaching Artist providing Art classes for Community Centers and Public Schools throughout New York City. I designed lesson plans and conducted staff development workshops for parents and teachers. 1996-1997 Freelance Illustrator, TIAA-CREF, New York Spot Illustration for Teacher’s Retirement Fund Magazine Art Instructor, Boricua College, New York Entry level Painting class 1994-1995 Adjunct Professor, John Jay College, New York Puerto Rican Studies department-Course: “Race and Ethnicity in America” Adjunct Lecturer, Queens College, New York Extension Center-Course: “Art History I: Renaissance to Post-Modernism” Visiting Curator, El Museo del Barrio, New York January Exhibition: “The Child’s Gift” 1993-1995 Exhibition Coordinator, Taller Boricua Gallery at Julia De Burgos Cultural Center, New York Responsibilities included coordination of year-long schedule of exhibitions, writing Press Releases, maintenance of roster of artists, supervision, delivery, and installation of works of Art, presentations and gallery receptions 1992-1993 Gallery Assistant, Longwood Arts Project, New York Gallery Asistant, M-13 Gallery, Soho, New York 1990-1991 Exhibition Coordinator, Fashion Moda, New York. In an old Hardware store housed in a derelict building Artist Stefan Eins (founder of Fashion Moda) and myself curated the “South Bronx Show ‘91” Artist In Training Program, El Museo del Barrio, New York I was workshop and studio assistant to Artists In Residence, Pepon Osorio and Catalina Parra. I led workshops, museum lectures and gallery talks on each exhibition AWARDS and REVIEWS 2009 Exhibition review of "Re-fashioning: Moda (A Tribute)" in The Mott Haven Herald, New York 2007 Exhibition review of “Neo Neo Dada” in The Village Voice and TimeOut New York 2005 Exhibition review of “A Knock at the Door” in The New York Times, New York Daily News and New York Post, and New York Observer 2003 BRIO Award, Bronx Council on the Arts, New York 2000 "RepoHistory:Circulation", Art Journal Volume 59 Number 4 Winter Issue 1999 "Authenticity 2", Exhibition review of collaborative project with RepoHistory, New Art Examiner, November 1992-1993 "The Nails of Adam" Critical Essay on Photography of Adam Licht in the Longwood Arts Journal "Towards Aesthetics in the Americas" Curatorial Essay in Catalogue for Exhibition, "America/Remerica" with Artist Juan Sanchez, Hunter College, New York 1985 Saint Gaudens Medal for Outstanding Draughtsmanship, Art Student League, New York 1984 Advanced Drawing Medal, High School of Music and Art, New York, NY |
EXHIBITIONS, PERFORMANCES, and PUBLISHING HISTORY
2016 PUERTO RICO COMIC CON Mythography Comics exhibition and performance at The Puerto Rico Comic Con in The Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico May 20-22 Centro de Convenciones 100 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 COMIC CON ONE SHOT #3: AWUTOK-THON, EL VEJIGANTE-LUCHADOR, "Who Was El Vejigante-Luchador?" Published and for sale online at Indyplanet.com The 5th Annual Gateway Academy Con: Comic Books, Anime, and Manga April 30th @ 10:00am. - 4:00pm. The Yonkers Riverfront Library 1 Larkin Center Yonkers, NY 10701 2015 MYTHOGRAPHY COMICS PERFORMANCE ART VIDEO EVENT - DECEMBER 19 12-4pm El Museo del Barrio 1230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029 Spreading the news of the unjust imprisonment of political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera, touring the galleries in costume, guarding the Cafe at El Museo del Barrio during their Super Sabado festivities, PARRANDA with BOMBA YO and at Taller Boricua 1680 Lexington Av New York, NY 10029 for a foto shoot. RACIALITY Aug 14 - Sept 12 Gallery Onetwentyeight 128 Rivington St. (bet. Essex & Norfolk) NYC, NY 10002 BRONX SUMMERFEST at BMHC Lab Market June 20 @ 4-8pm Bronx Music Heritage Center 1303 Louis Nine Blvd Bronx, NY 10459 SUMMER SHOW RULES June 5 - July 18 Gallery Onetwentyeight 128 Rivington St. (bet. Essex & Norfolk) NYC, NY 10002 PUERTO RICO COMIC CON Mythography Comics exhibition and performance at The Puerto Rico Comic Con in The Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico May 22-24 Centro de Convenciones 100 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907 The Gateway Academy Con: Comic Books, Anime, and Manga May 2 @ 10:00am. - 4:00pm. The Yonkers Riverfront Library 1 Larkin Center Yonkers, NY 10701 Art Pages, All Art is Welcomed 40th Anniversary Celebration Art exhibition and silent auction April 17 @ 5:30pm - 8:00pm Taller Puertorriqueño 2721 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA The BIG APPLE CONVENTION NYC's longest-running comic bbok/sci-fi/fantasy/horror/pop culture convention Penn Plaza Pavilion 402 7th Ave at 33rd St., NY, NY 10001 March 7, 10:00AM - 6:00PM 2014-15 The BRONX ARTIST DOCUMENTARY PROJECT The Galleries at Krasdale Foods 400 Food Center Drive, Hunts Point - The Bronx IMAGES OF IDENTITY: TALLER PUERTORRIQUEÑO 1974-2014 Nov 7,2014 -Jan 14, 2015 at Taller Puertorriqueño 2721 North 5th Street, Philadelphia PA 2014 "AWUTOK-THON, EL VEJIGANTE-LUCHADOR, SYNOPSIS: Pinups and Character Sketches" Published and for sale online at Indyplanet.com and La Casa Azul Bookstore NEW YORK COMIC BOOK CONVENTION Cosplay performance/Promotional event as Awutok-thon, El Vejigante-Luchador and Doktor "Cuervo" for the comic book anthology, "WARPED: The Strange and Heroic" published by MasMedia Studios at Jacob K. Javitz Convention Center, New York, NY "THE BRONX ARTIST DOCUMENTARY PROJECT" September 13 - October 18, 2014 in the galleries of the Andrew Freedman Home, 1125 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10452 NEW YORK COMIC FEST June 14, 2014 Westchester County Center 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607 "POSTCARDS4OSCAR" - an exhibition and fundraiser for the freedom of Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar López Rivera June 4-5, 2014 at Julia de Burgos Cultural Center 1680 Lexington Ave, NY, NY 10026 Panel presentation "ICONOGRAPHIES, VARIATIONS AND MEANING" on Saturday May 17 at Taller Puertorriqueño 2721 North 5th Street, Philadelphia PA "6th Annual BRONX HEROES COMIC BOOK CONVENTION" May 3 at The Bronx Center Library 310 East Kingsbridge Road, NYC 2013 VEJIGANTES OF PUERTO RICO: ORIGINS, MYTHS, AND MESSENGERS Oct. 11 2013 - Jan. 11, 2014 with Special Performance: "El Vejigante-Luchador In Philadelphia" on Friday Oct. 25, 2013 at Taller Puertorriqueño 2721 North 5th Street, Philadelphia PA The SUPERHEROES COMIC CON at the Andrew Freedman Home 1125 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY "FWACATA! A Latino Comics Experience" at CSV Cultural Center 107 Suffolk Street, NYC 5th Annual BRONX HEROES COMIC BOOK CONVENTION at The Bronx Center Library 310 East Kingsbridge Road, NYC Issue number four of Graphic Novel, "MYTHOGRAPHY: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF AWUTOK-THON, EL VEJIGANTE-LUCHADOR" published and for sale online at Indyplanet.com and at La Casa Azul Bookstore, NYC 2012 "AMERICAN COMICS AND THE LATINO IMAGE" Panel presentation and discussion at the Bronx Music Heritage Center Lab, NY Issue number three of Graphic Novel, "MYTHOGRAPHY: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF AWUTOK-THON, EL VEJIGANTE-LUCHADOR" published and for sale online at Indyplanet.com and at La Casa Azul Bookstore in El Barrio, NY "ART TAKES TIMES SQUARE", 7-10:30pm Monday, June 18, Broadway 43rd Street and 44th Street, New York Issue number two of my Graphic Novel, "MYTHOGRAPHY: THE TRANSFIGURATION OF AWUTOK-THON, EL VEJIGANTE-LUCHADOR" published and for sale online at IndyPlanet.com and at La Casa Azul Bookstore in El Barrio, NY 2011 Issue number one of my Graphic Novel, “Mythography: The Transfiguration of Awutok-Thon, El Vejigante-Luchador” published and for sale online at IndyPlanet.com “The Last Book” Exhibited in the Aguilar Branch of the New York Public Library at 174 East 110th Street in New York City February 2nd until May 29th 2010 “The Last Book” Exhibited in the Zentral Bibliothek in Zurich, Switzerland March 10 until July 31st 2009 “Refashioning: Moda (A Tribute)” Fashion Moda 2803 3rd Avenue, Bronx, NY “Voices from the Boroughs”, The Jerome L. Greene Space, New York, NY “Eclectic Urbanism, Space, Time and Rhythm”, Intercultural Museum Art Gallery Baltimore, Maryland “The Big Apple meets The Big Easy”, GSL Art Projects, New Orleans, Louisiana “Space and Time” Tribes Gallery, New York “Urbanism in the Raw” Williamsburg Music Center, Brooklyn, New York 2008 “Boricua En La Luna” Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, New York “Latino Heritage Celebration”, hosted by United Nations Staff Recreational Council,United Nations Building, New York “The Last Book”, Sponsored by the National Library of Spain, installed in the National Library of Argentina in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Edited by Luis Camnitzer, Madrid, Spain 2007 "The Red Carpet Treatment Video Show", Rush Arts, Art Basel in Miami, Florida “Out Of Place” Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, New York "Neo Neo Dada", Rush Arts Gallery, New York 2006 "Constructivismo", Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, New York "Fuerza II", Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, New York 2005 "A Knock At The Door", Cooper Union, New York "Creative Collaborations", Rush Arts Gallery, New York "400th Anniversary of Cervantes' Don Quixote", Boricua College, New York "Manimal", Gallery 128, New York "Other Dimensions of Abstract Art", Tribes Gallery, New York 2004 CMHA Experimental Film Festival @ First Annual Mott Haven Open Studio Event, New York "PilotTV", 4 Day Autonomous TV Studio Event, Chicago, Illinois "Words, Pictures and Other Icons", Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York "Better Recognize", Longwood Arts @ Hostos Community College, New York "Kleinigkeiten", Kunst-New York, Linz, Novgorod, Kliemsteinhaus, Linz, Austria Paintings, Mixed Media, Digital Video, Taller Boricua Gallery, New York 2003 "Spirit Gods of the Americas", El Taller Latino-Americano, New York Solo Exhibition and Performance, The International Center in New York, NY Gallery X Collection, Galeri-X, Istanbul, Turkey Group Show, Paradigma Gallery, Linz, Austria "Mythography", New York Public Library, 96th Street Branch 2002 Hispanic Heritage Exhibition, N.Y.C.H.A., Surrogates CourtHouse 2001 "www.democracyatstake.net:TheExhibition", Scott Pfaffman Gallery, NY "Artist at Work", New Century Artists Gallery, New York 2000 "RepoHistory:Circulation", ExitArt Gallery, New York "Y2 Clay", Gallery X, New York "Rewind/Fast Forward", Gallery 128, New York 1999 "Artist's Self-Portraits", Gallery at 1 East 53rd Street, New York 1998 "Fresh Blood", Archibald Arts, Hell's Kitchen, New York 1997 "Tabula Rasa", Gallery 128, New York 1993 "Flormala", 10 on 8 Public Art Windows, New York "Collision/Convergence of Cultures" Westbeth Art Gallery, New York "Gravemarkers", Longwood Arts Project, New York "Group Invitational", Taller Boricua Gallery, New York "AIM XIII", Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York 1992 "Salon", Art In General, New York "Folkloric Splendor", Yeshiva University, Brookdale Center, New York "South Bronx Show '91", Fashion Moda , New York |