Rick Ruggles

About the Artist

Born in the Buckeye State of Ohio, I studied Geology at Oberlin College. My father’s  interest in photography rubbed off on me, even though I committed an early error by leaving my first camera on an airplane.  During school, I inherited my grandmother’s metalsmithing tools, spawning a career as an award-winning jeweler.  My uncle was a building contractor, which led me to become a designer/builder of energy-efficient homes and an instructor of housebuilding.  At this stage, I continue to do construction, and my eye for detail keeps me looking everywhere everyday for captivating images to capture.    

Artist's Statement

I’ve found myself fascinated by the simple beauty in everyday details in daily life. Contemplative and open to the remarkable mundane, I find myself looking in all directions in everyday life. Miksang is a Tibetan term that I recently came upon, which describes in part why my eye is drawn to such details. It’s seeing the world in a different way- noticing the simplest small details in the world, when fully engaged in the present moment. Along with the ideals of minimalism, for me it’s also about discovering simple beauty in the most humble of forms, materials, and shadows.