Alma Ruiz Explained
Alma Ruiz is a curator, best known as a longtime, former senior curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA).[1] [2]
Early life and education
Alma Ruiz was born and raised in Guatemala. At 19, she moved to Los Angeles to join her mother and brother, initially enrolling at Los Angeles City College, then transferring to the University of Southern California where she graduated with a degree in art history. She then pursued a graduate degree in Italian Language and Literature from the Middlebury College and Università di Firenze.
Career and work
After earning her degree, Ruiz worked in Florence until 1982, then returned to Los Angeles and joined MOCA, initially as executive assistant to director Richard Koshalek. In 1989 she became exhibitions director at MOCA.
Ruiz's curatorial work focused on exhibitions of postwar artists, with an emphasis on emerging and Latin American artists.[3] [4] In 2016, she curated the 20 Bienal de Arte Paizin Guatemala City.[5]
Reception
Her curated exhibitions have received numerous positive reviews. Recently, art critics Hunter Drohojowska-Philp and Edward Goldman praised her work for the solo exhibition of Magdalena Fernández at MOCA Pacific Design Center.[6]
Exhibitions
Selected curation for the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles:
- Jacob Hashimoto: Gas Giant (2014)
- Cinema Vezzoli (2012)[7]
- Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color, and Space (2010)[8]
- Poetics of the Handmade (2007)
- Gabriel Orozco (2000)
- The Experimental Exercise of Freedom: Lygia Clark, Gego, Mathias Goeritz, Hélio Oiticica, and Mira Schendel (1999)
Additional exhibitions by Artists:
- Magdalena Fernández
- Ernesto Neto
- William Kentridge
- Ana Mendieta
- Carlos Garaicoa
- Piero Manzoni
- Ad Reinhardt
Publications
- Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color, and Space, Published by the Museum of Contemporary Art, 2012. (editing and text)
- Alexandra Grant, Published by the Museum of Contemporary Art. (editing)
- Poetics of the Handmade, Published by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2007. (text)
- Damián Ortega: The Beetle and Other Works, Published by California Institute of the Arts/Redcat, 2006. (essay)
- The Experimental Exercise of Freedom: Lygia Clark, Gego, Mathias Goeritz, Helio Oiticica, Published by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2000. (contribution)[9]
Notes and References
- News: MOCA senior curator Alma Ruiz to retire. March 16, 2016. Los Angeles Times. Vankin. Deborah. 11 March 2017.
- Web site: Vikram. Anuradha. Alma Ruiz: Former MOCA Curator Discusses Three Decades at the Institution. KCET. 12 January 2016. 26 March 2017.
- News: Latino and Latin American artists to meet in Pacific Standard Time. Finkel. Jori. March 30, 2016. The Art Newspaper. March 28, 2017.
- Schipper. Merle. THE ENERGIZING OF MOCA'S NEW LATIN AMERICAN PROGRAM. Art Scene. 26 March 2017.
- Web site: Alma Ruiz joins The Center for Management in the Creative Industries News Sotheby's Institute of Art. sothebysinstitute.com. 2017-03-28.
- Goldman. Edward. From Palm Springs to Montecito, With a Stop in West Hollywood. Huffington Post. 5 January 2016. 26 March 2017.
- Rae. Haniya. Francesco Vezzoli's Playful Take on Hollywood Culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. Architectural Digest. 31 March 2014. 26 March 2017.
- Web site: SUPRASENSORIAL BOOK — Rebeca Mendez . 2022-09-14 . rebecamendez.com . en.
- Web site: Alma Ruiz Curatorial Writing and Museum Catalogues. ARTBOOK. 26 March 2017.