Sterling Ruby (American/Dutch, b. 1972, Bitburg, Germany) is known for his restless invention and prolific output across mediums. From handworked ceramics and sublime abstract paintings to soft sculptures and work with textiles and quilts, Ruby is one of the leading voices of his generation. This catalog presents twenty years of the artist’s iconic, multidisciplinary works. Accompanying Ruby’s first U.S. museum survey, this book takes a thematic approach to the artist’s output, focusing on his critical invocation of imagery related to the American identity. Beginning with his earliest two-dimensional works on paper, this volume demonstrates Ruby’s distinctive approach to psychological, cultural, and topical concerns, and his continuous engagement with themes such as prison reform, labor conditions, and popular culture.

Published on the occasion of the exhibition “Sterling Ruby,” organized by Alex Gartenfeld, Artistic Director, Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami and Eva Respini, Barbara Lee Chief Curator, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston.

Year
2019

Cover Medium
Paperback

Editors
Alex Gartenfeld, Eva Respini

Authors
Alex Gartenfeld, Eva Respini, Jeffrey De Blois, and a conversation between Sterling Ruby and Isabelle Graw

Designer
Eric Wrenn Office Inc, New York

Publisher
DelMonico Books • Prestel

Additional Credits Cover:
Sterling Ruby, ACTS/WS ROLLIN, 2011 (detail).
Clear urethane block, dye, wood, spray paint, formica,
60 1/2 x 62 1/2 x 34 in.
Photo: Robert Wedemeyer.
Courtesy Sterling Ruby Studio