We recently connected with Annie Ruth and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Annie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on was creating art for a child care center, while the builders were still building the facility. During the 1990’s there was an architect who attended church in the neighborhood that I live in. He knew right away that he wanted me to create the art for this new and innovative child care facility. I was always volunteering in my community so I wasn’t a stranger to community engagement. What made this project so meaningful was the opportunity to create paintings without actually seeing a space. I had to use blueprints and architectural renderings to choose the size and quantity of paintings. Those paintings still grace the walls of that child care center nearly 30 years later.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am both a self-taught and professionally trained visual artist and writer. My formal training in art began in high school, where I studied commercial art. I later attended the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design Architecture and Art, majoring in Graphic Design. After completing a year of college, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserves where I served as a Graphic Artist, designing magazine ads, training materials and commercially printed materials. While in the military, I shifted my full-time educational studies to Interdisciplinary Studies with a Business Minor. My art focus also shifted during this time as well. I began collaborating with faith-based organizations, schools and social service agencies to create community art exhibits and outreach that combined music, drama and education.

My writing began after the tragic death of my four-year-old nephew. The first time that I ever shared any of my work was at his funeral. I wrote a poem titled “My Black Child”. Since then I have been on a mission to elevate Black children and expose them to artists that look like them.

What I’m most proud of is my arts outreach work in the community. For 40+ years I have focused my work on community engagement and sharing the arts with underserved communities. My golden rule is “Everyone is Creative”. I often see the children that I have influenced on the streets or in a grocery store (They are parents now, with children of their own.) The common theme that resonates with them is “That’s Ms. Annie Ruth– and she made a positive difference in my life by exposing me to art and reminding me that I am creative.”

Have you ever had to pivot?

The time that I have had to pivot in life was during the COVID-19 pandemic. I found myself adjusting to business shut downs, loss of my income and work, as well as, experiencing the ill affects of racial trauma that was exploding in the United States– with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmad Auberry and others. On top of that my sister and I were also caring for my terminally ill mother,

The healing power of art became real for me– it literally saved my life. I used that time to create art that reflected my heart and soul. The collection of work was called “On Her Shoulders”– It was my way of sharing how, we as Black women, have always had to carry the weight of the world– Our pivots, our adjustments and even the masks that we often wear.

This project was funded by an art commission that I received from a prominent arts organization in Cincinnati. For several months, I poured my heart into painting art that would reach generations of viewers– art that would spark conversations.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal that drives my creative journey is “building bridges”. I want my art to draw people together and also address the sensitive topics that people find hard to talk about.- like racism, health disparities, color-ism and more. This is one of the reasons that I use lots of vivid colors and textures in my mixed media paintings. I also incorporate the use of subtle symbolism, which inspires the viewer to ask “What is this?”

My art reaches viewers of all ages and backgrounds and the imagery and colors makes each viewer feel that the work was created just for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.annieruth.com
• Instagram: whoisannieruth
• Facebook: whoisannieruth
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3uLwn8ZOSymNDqgZHZ27zw

Image Credits
Whitney Dixon and Cara Owsley