In Conversation with Ruby Sky Stiler

Ruby Sky Stiler (b. 1979) was born in Portland, ME, and lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. Her multi-dimensional practice draws from diverse time periods, artistic movements, and genres, imbuing familial and political structures with her own feminist values and insights. Nodding to art historical archetypes, Stiler’s work reimagines and recasts the history of figuration and the nude through intricate processes of disruption, fragmentation, and layering.

Conducted on the occasion of Long Pose, Ruby Sky Stiler’s first solo exhibition with Alexander Gray Associates in New York, this conversation traces the artist’s ongoing exploration of figuration, materiality, and art historical revision. 

RENATA: Your practice draws from such a rich constellation of references—from Greco-Roman sculpture and Art Deco design to the work of modernists like Anni Albers and Louise Nevelson. How do you navigate this vast lineage without collapsing under its weight? Is there a particular art historical dialogue that continues to feel urgent for you today?

 RUBY: In my work, I draw from a mix of influences that span centuries and cultures—it’s a way of feeling connected to the past, present, and future all at once. Louise Nevelson’s work, especially, still feels incredibly alive to me. When I bring scraps and fragments into alignment and something new appears, I feel like I’m carrying her vision forward. When a simple form edges toward unconventional figuration, I’m extending her lineage in my own way. Her example shaped how I think about fragmentation, reclamation, and repair. Instead of feeling weighed down by history, I find a lot of energy in that sense of continuity.