Ruby Osorio: Artist Extraordinaire
There was art in the air at the art complex, Sept. 30, in a room filled with creative souls, where guest speaker Ruby Osorio talked about her art portraying the female stereotypes with the female heroine as a central character.
Osorio, born in 1974 in Los Angeles was the first female in her family to graduate college.
She started out with little support for her dreams but continued on - against her family's desire - with art studies at UCLA and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City. Since the beginning of her professional career 10 years ago, she has made a name for herself portraying and challenging the objectifying stereotypes of the female sex.
In this lecture which contained hardly any talk, such a difference from other lectures, Osorio herself was far from secure in her role as a speaker. Instead, by showing a slideshow, she invited the audience into a time capsule exploring from her earliest work to her latest pieces.
By naming her paintings she gives a hint of how she wants the viewer to decode it. Yet at the same time she talked about how important it is for her that her art is open-ended; how she instead of sending a definitive message prefers the viewer to interpret the painting in the way they want.
Her paintings, some small, some large, are influenced by Japanese aesthetics. The paintings are almost unreal, unimaginable like they just appeared from a dream. Some more organized than others, and some so complex that they are impossible to interpret.
The paintings, showing naked women in intimate situations, taking baths or brushing their hair, are sometimes extreme and far from likeable by everyone.
According to Osorio, art is her way of communicating. Looking for inspiration she has travelled the world, collecting newspapers and fabrics from flee markets in Greece and Japan. By using the material together with water colors, acrylic and embroidery she uses mixed media to communicate as much as possible.
All through the lecture, she again appeared insecure, yet she was able to address the audience. For example, she invited people several times to ask her questions and share their feelings about art with her.
There was an undefined charm surrounding her, making each voice vibration caused by nervousness appealing instead of annoying.
Her ability to connect with the audience revealed some of that temperament and determination resting underneath.
Ruby Osorio concluded her one hour lecture by talking about how she - by ending an eight year collaboration with art gallery owner Merelly Cherry in Venice - now finds herself to be the master of her own faith again. Instead of being frightened, she sees this as a wonderful inspiration.
"You are your own businessperson, and at the end of the day, it is all about the work," she said.
At the end of her lecture, after facing roaring applause, people started gathering down at the stage, asking questions in hope of grabbing some of the magic surrounding Osorio and her art.