contemporary artist
Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art i ...
.
Life and work
Originally introduced to art by his grandfather, Ruffo became an artist's apprentice at the age of fourteen, working for two years before setting up his own studio in the countryside of
Filacciano
Filacciano is a (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Italian region of Latium, located about north of Rome
Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also ...
.
He graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Rome in 2005 and moved to the Ex Pastificio Cerere in
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo is the Italian and Spanish name for Saint Lawrence, the 3rd-century Christian martyr, and may refer to:
Places Argentina
* San Lorenzo, Santa Fe
* San Lorenzo Department, Chaco
* Villa San Lorenzo, town and municipality in Salta P ...
, a historic artist's residence. “Premio New York Artists.” The Italian Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 March 2013.
In 2005, Ruffo travelled to
Beslan
Beslan (; , ''Beslæn'', ) is a town and the administrative center of Pravoberezhny District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia, located about north of the republic's capital Vladikavkaz, close to the border with the Republic ...
, Russia, to work with children who survived the massacre at their local school by Chechen rebels. Immediately following the event, the artist worked as an art therapist, running workshops for the child survivors of the Beslan massacre. His time spent in Beslan inspired a major work entitled, ''Beslan doppia mappatura'' (Beslan Double Mapping) 2006, which illustrates the destroyed classrooms and surviving children.
In 2011, Ruffo was selected for The ''Premio New York'' fellowship at
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...
. The research conducted during his time there served as the foundation for his series entitled, “The Political Gymnasium” which centres on the politico-philosophical writings and arguments of
Robert Nozick
Robert Nozick (; November 16, 1938 – January 23, 2002) was an American philosopher. He held the Joseph Pellegrino Harvard University Professor, University Professorship at Harvard University, Seligman, I. “Pietro Ruffo Hits The Gym At Blain Southern.” ''ArtLyst''. N.p., 17 Jan. 2013.