Edward Ruggieri

Artist Statement

My artwork has always been a release for me, from the time I was very young to present day. The paint swirling on the palette, on the brush, and subsequently on the canvas provided an experience that drew me in, blocking out the world around me to create a new one of my own. But my works always tended and still lead toward the calm, serene, the tranquil and more unassuming rather than that which is more ostentatious. The landscapes I create more recently are small in size, and they are remnants of experiences, hiking trips, time spent fishing, excursions to the shore, family vacation destinations, and general scenes happily etched into my memory whether complete or partial. My hope is that these works draw in the viewer, like they do with me, to create a communion with nature – a peaceful setting in which one can relax, reflect, and find comfort.

Alfa’s Notes

Utilizing his art as both a means of self-expression and a release, Edward Ruggieri’s art has served as a key staple of his life since his childhood. The sensation of bending the hues and contours of paint on canvas to his will continually captivates Ruggieri and motivates him to create his sprawling landscapes. Tranquil scenes of natural beauty populate Ruggieri’s body of work exuding a mood of serenity throughout his paintings. His landscapes boast luminous sunsets highlighting lush greens of his fertile valleys and hillsides while his impressionistic still life images emanate the very calm that is instilled within him as he paints. Though relatively small in size, Ruggieri’s landscape paintings harbor vast amounts of emotional resonance for him consisting of the remnants of experiences, hiking trips, time spent fishing, excursions to the shore, family vacation destinations, and general scenes that bring him happiness. The feelings which Ruggieri experiences as he creates his work are ones which he hopes that his viewers ultimately share. By navigating the details of his works, a sensation of oneness with the environments Ruggieri illustrates can be felt. With this emotional communion comes the potential for Ruggieri’s coveted states of relaxation, deep reflection, and comfort.