Meet the Maker: Frances Ruiz
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Frances Ruiz and her award-winning piece titled "Romance." Justin L. Mack/Axios
Meet Frances Ruiz, a local collage artist with a passion for learning, family and culture that comes through in her creations.
The inspo: Ruiz discovered collage art during the pandemic while teaching virtual art classes for friends and family as a way to "inspire us and free our minds of the anxiety revolving around everyone during that time."
- Her biggest inspirations are her Puerto Rican background and upbringing in a family where music, dance and culture were encouraged.
- "I almost always paint paper in bold tropical colors and create people, places and nature related to the island," she said. "And you will always find sheet music and a reference to Puerto Rico in all my collage paintings."
Zoom in: Ruiz, who is also a lawyer, calls herself a "junkie for learning." So the highlight of her creative process is diving deep into understanding everything about her subjects.
- "For example, if I am creating a flower, I read about its healing properties and/or its inspirational meaning and I try to incorporate that in the painting," she said.
The latest: If you drove downtown in May, you likely saw her work on the Indianapolis Artsgarden.
- She was one of five artists chosen for the annual Welcome Race Fans collaboration, and her piece spent the month of May greeting motorists making their way down West Washington Street.
What she's making now: Ruiz recently wrapped a project for a local hospital that is her largest yet.
Yes, but: Art lovers will have to wait a little longer for its big reveal.
- "I had to complete three panels of 32x32 with a specific theme," she said. "I cannot divulge the information yet. However, keep tuned for the location of the installation by the end of July, beginning of August."
Check her out: On her website, Facebook or Instagram.