Up shut, the irregularly gridded, geometric backgrounds of Ruby Sky Stiler’s work evoke patchwork or the patterns of agricultural landscapes seen aerially. Intricate patterns intersect in every rectangle, hinting at floral or ornamental motifs that, when considered from additional away, seem nearly topographical. Merging with this groundwork are boldly delineated girls who usually instantly return the viewer’s gaze.
Reassessing the historical past of Western artwork, Stiler positions girls in what she has previously described as “the empowered function as The Artist.” Somewhat than muses or objectified topics, she imbues her figures with qualities of management, liberty, and leisure.
Just lately on view at Frieze LA with Alexander Gray Associates, Stiler’s work proceed to reenvision Twentieth-century abstraction, particularly the predominantly male Cubist motion that burgeoned round 1907 and 1908. She turns the tables on the traditionally gendered dichotomy in superb artwork, transferring the function of ladies as topics of work to that of creator.
In works like “Girls with Youngsters in Blue,” Stiler portrays nude figures in repose or with youngsters, emphasizing one other potent definition of ladies as creators and caregivers. Via mosaic-like compositions, she challenges artwork historic tropes and reasserts extra inclusive, up to date definitions of gender roles in artwork.
Stiler employs a meticulous graphite switch course of to use patterned outlines to her items, nodding to textile design—a craft custom additionally traditionally trivialized within the artwork world as “girls’s work.” Pastel acrylic hues fill out our bodies and backgrounds, whereas daring outlines evocative of minimalist Bauhaus design make clear our bodies and objects.
Stiler is at present getting ready a solo exhibition with Alexander Grey Associates scheduled for November. Discover extra on her website and Instagram.
