Ruby Neri

Ruby Neri comes from a long line of traditional figurative sculptors, in the vein of Auguste Rodin, George Segal, and her father, Manuel Neri. This type of work is a rarity in our time, as few artists are working in the traditional manner in a larger-than-life format. However, despite her dedication to traditional sculpture, the concepts of cubism are barely contained by the skin of her sculpture. The geometry of the fundamental forms seems to warp what might otherwise be a classical figure or equestrian statue, leaving the viewer to contemplate its underlying structure and the significance of the transformation. This contrast between a traditional interest in sculpture and an interest of cubism gives the work much of its energy. But it not just the sculptural forms that fuel Neri’s work—her use and application of color is a defining aspect of her creations. The color reflects a constant exposure to contemporary Italian art, which has deeply influenced her choice and application of her palate, especially in her treatment of the sculpture’s three-dimensional surface as a blank two-dimensional canvas. Neri integrates the strengths of painting and sculpture into cohesive and powerful works of art.

Neri received her BFA in painting from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1994. She has participated in group shows throughout the Bay Area including San Francisco’s Diego Rivera Gallery (1994, 1992) and Southern Exposure Gallery (1995, 1992).