Ruth Clegg’s photographic works are dedicated to the exploration of layers of light, movement, and color. With an obsessive eye Clegg takes these basic elements to the exploration of water and the otherworldly experience of underwater pond life. Clegg places particular focus on the manner in which water reflects and fractures light through the lens, offering the viewer a peak into a little experienced microcosm under the surface.
Bio: Ruth Clegg has been part of the art world for thirty-five years. A 1977 graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Fine Arts, Ruth concentrated in the area of printmaking, primarily lithography and photography. For the past thirty-two years Ruth has explored the portrait photography world and has maintained a studio, Angell Fine Arts, LTD, in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Ruth recently opened a new studio in Providence at the historic Fleur de Lys building at 7 Thomas Street. Through her work with the portrait studio Ruth has received numerous professional awards and degrees (Master of Photography, Photographic Craftsman) and has been published in five books representing the best of professional photography in the United States.
Ruth continues to explore not only photography but printmaking, drawing and painting. Currently working at Goddard Studio in Pawtucket Rhode Island, Ruth is exploring the process of polymer intaglio to create editions, mono prints, mono types and calligraphy. As an artist member of the Providence Art Club, Ruth has had numerous exhibitions over the past twenty-three years. Additional shows have been at Miss Porter’s School, Leadership Rhode Island Gallery, Pawtucket Arts Council, Green Airport, Portsmouth Arts Guild, Mystic Arts Center, Goddard-Partridge Studio and Save the Bay, and Wickford Art Association. Ruth is presented by The Charlestown Gallery, David-Max, AZ Fine Arts and Gallery Z.
Ruth is also an educator, most recently teaching photography, multimedia and graphics at Rocky Hill School. In addition Ruth gives professional seminars on photographic techniques and integrating fine arts into a photographic business throughout the New England area.
A common theme that finds its way into Ruth’s work is the exploration of texture and patterns. Whether it is a photographic portrait, landscape, etching, collograph, monotype or painting there is an ongoing dialogue present in the layers of each medium. The advancement of computers has allowed Ruth to continue to explore the combination of mediums such as photography, drawing and painting into a single image.
Ruth had fifteen photographs and solar plate prints accepted in juried shows at Mystic Arts Center (Mystic, CT), Warwick Museum of Art (Warwick, RI), South County Art Association (Kingston, RI) and Portsmouth Arts Guild (Portsmouth, RI) over the past three years. Most recently Ruth received 2 honorable mentions for photographs, Just Below, Water Flora and one honorable mention for Towards the Light a hand colored solar plate print. Water Flora also received second prize and best photograph in the Master Division of the 63rd Annual Central Adirondack Art Show.
In 2014 Ruth agreed to participate in the Joint Venture Portfolio, a group of 35 printmakers from the Providence Art Club and the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. The outcome of the project has been five shows exhibiting artist’s current printmaking portfolios in both Virginia and Rhode Island. the shows have resulted in the sale of multiple portfolios and individual work to personal collectors, corporations and medical institutes.
Ruth is Past President of the professional Photographers’ Association of Rhode Island and the Professional Photographers’ Association of New England. Ruth is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of Rhode Island and New England, View, The Art League of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Design Museum Associates and the Providence Art Club.
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