RUTH YANG PAINTING
Beauty of Art
Artist Biography & Artist Satement
Artist Biography Ruth Yang, Painter MFA Candidate University of Miami FL, USA.
Ruth Yang is a portraiture based in Florida, USA, currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the University of Miami. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) with Summa Cum Laude honors from the West Virginia University School of Art & Design. Born in the rural mountains of southern China, Yang overcame the loss of formal education during her early childhood to become a nationally recognized artist in the United States. Her work has been exhibited widely across the United States including at the University of Miami Lowe Art Museum, the West Virginia State Museum, West Virginia University of The Watts Museum, Marshall UniversitySchool of Art & Design, Slippery Rock University and the University of Miami’s Art Basel Wynwood Gallery. Yang’s portrait Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment (Hanfu) received top honors at the 2023 West Virginia State Museum Biennial Juried Exhibition, winning the Governor’s Award and the D. Gene Jordon Memorial Award, and was acquired for the museum’s permanent collection. Same painting Published in the International Artist Magazine Issue 155 February/March 2024 and won Art Prize FINALIST Challenge No. 139 People & Figures. From 2023 to 2025, she has won 16 awards in juried exhibitions across the United States.
Artist Statement Ruth Yang, Painter MFA Candidate University of Miami FL, USA.
I am a portrait artist working in oil paint, drawing inspiration from the Classical and Neoclassical techniques of the European Old Masters. My work blends traditional methods with contemporary themes of cultural identity, religion, and personal experience. Influenced by Raphael’s compositions and atmospheric use of skin tones, I combine Western techniques with Asian cultural elements to create emotionally resonant portraits. Each piece begins with a detailed underpainting and develops through translucent layers to achieve lifelike skin tones and presence. I handcraft my canvases and frames, honoring historical practices while forging a dialogue between past and present. As a Chinese-American artist, my work reflects a multicultural perspective, bridging Eastern and Western traditions through the lens of portraiture.
West Virginia State Museum TopGovernor’s Award and D. Gene Jordon Memorial Award.
2023 West Virginia State Museum/Department of Art, Culture and History Center 23rd Biennial Juried Exhibition. ''Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu''Top Governor’s Award and D. Gene Jordon Memorial Award. West Virginia State Museum officially collected the painting to their museum’s art collection.
Classical & Contemporary Paintings
Galleries Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
Publication & News
Professional Activities
WVU School of Art Student Juried Exhibition 2023.
A Painting award sponsored 2023.
WVU School of Art Student Juried Exhibition 2022
A Painting Award Sponsored 2022.
CV
Education
2024 MFA In-process University of Miami Art and Art History Coral Gables FL.
2021 BFA in Painting West Virginia University School of Art and Design, Morgantown, WV
Honors
2021 WVU School of Art and Design, Summa Cum Laude Latin Honors Cords.
2018-2021 West Virginia University President's Lists.
2018-2020 West Virginia University Dean’s Lists.
Awards
2024-2025 University of Miami Art and Art History Coral Gables FL, Awards MFA Full scholarship.
2024 WV Local Parkersburg Art Center Biennial Juried Exhibition The River Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming Award Best of Show/Top award.
2024 WV Local Gallery 62 West, 25th Annual Memorial Day Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment QIPAO Award Second Place.
2024 International Artist Magazine Art Prize Challenge No. 139 People & Figures. Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu Award FINALIST published In Issue 155 February/March 2024 & Winner’s Certificate. Scottsdale, AZ.
2024 WV Local Elkins Art Center, 23rd Annual Gala Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming Award Honorable Mention.
2023 West Virginia State Museum/Department of Art, Culture and History Center 23rdBiennial Juried Exhibition. Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu Top Governor’s Award and D. Gene Jordon Memorial Award. West Virginia State Museum officially collected the painting to their museum’s art collection. Charleston WV.
2023 WV Local Elkins Art Center, 22nd Annual Gala Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu Award Best of Show.
2023 WV Local Gallery 62 West, 25th Annual Memorial Day Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat Award First Place.
2023 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, 15th Annual Best of West Virginia Juried Exhibition. Financial Miracle Award Third Place.
2023 WV Local Gallery 62 West, 25th Annual Memorial Day Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Self Portrait With a Traditional Chinese Fan Award People's Choice.
2023 Eastern West Virginia Community Technical College, First Juried Art Show. Freedom. Award Second Place.
2023 WV Local Morgantown Art Association, MAA 60 Annual Juried Exhibition. Self portrait of GOD’s Calling Award Third Place.
2023 WV Local Elkins Art Center, 2023 MSFF Fall Juried Art Exhibition. Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming, Award Honorable Mention.
2023 WV Local Beckley Art Center, Juried Exhibition Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat Award Honorable Mention.
2022 WV Local Elkins Art Center, Juried Fall Art Exhibition. Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat Award Honorable Mention.
2021 WVU School of Art And Design, 10th Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Self Portrait With a Traditional Chinese Fan Award WVU Dean of Libraries.
2020 WVU School of Art & Design, 9th Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat Award Cynthia Myerberg Painting.
2020-2021 WVU School of Art And Design, Annual Arts Students competition Additional awards Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund. 8 paintings Awards.
2018-2021 WVU School of Art And Design, Arts awards GPA Scholarship.
Grants
2018-2021 West Virginia Higher Education Grants. 2018-2021 United States Federal Pell Grants. 2018-2021 United States Federal Supp Ed Op Grants.
Group And Public Exhibitions
2024 West Virginia State Museum/Department of Art, Culture and History Center West Virginia Historic Building juried exhibition. Charleston WV.
2024 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, 16TH Best of West Virginia Annual Juried Exhibition, Beckley WV.
2024 PA Butler Art Center Annual Juried Exhibition
2024 WV Local Parkersburg Art Center Biennial Juried Exhibition The River Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming
2024 WV Local Elkins Art Center, 23rd Annual Gala Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming
2024 WV Local Gallery 62 West, 25th Annual Memorial Day Juried Fine Arts Exhibition Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment
2024 West Virginia State Museum/Department of Art, Culture and History Center West Virginia Landscapes juried exhibition. Charleston WV. Cross Culture West Virginia, Mountain State Life. Curator Jim Mitchell/ WV State museum.
2024 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, Still The One Portrait & Still Life Exhibition, Beckley WV. Freedom, Self Portrait of GOD’s Calling. Curator Tamarack community.
2024 Marshall UniversitySchool of Art & Design, Carroll Gallery, 13TH Annual National Juried Exhibition, Huntington, WV. Financial Miracle, Juror Taekyeom Lee.
2023-2024 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, Holiday Small Package Exhibition. Beckley WV. After Raphael, Study of La Fornarina, Saint Of Sarah Hemans. Curator Tamarack community. December 16, 2023-January 24, 2024.
2023-2024 West Virginia State Museum/Department of Art, Culture and History Center 23rd Biennial Juried Exhibition. Charleston WV. Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu, WV Prosperous In 2022. Curator Jim Mitchell/ WV State museum. Jurors Stephen Wicks/curator Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville TN. Jennifer Kaplan/professor University of Tennessee. November 5, 2023-February 10, 2024.
2023 Marshall UniversitySchool of Art & Design, Carroll Gallery, WV ArtistGroup Exhibition. Huntington, WV. Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming.Curator Courtney Chapman/MFA Marshall University.
2023 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, 15th Annual Best of West Virginia Juried Exhibition. Beckley WV. WV Prosperous In 2022, Financial Miracle. Curators/Juror Dylan Collins, Mike Calway-Fagen, Tammy Coffman.
2023 WV Local Elkins Art Center 22nd Annual Gala Juried Exhibition. Elkins, WV.Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu, Hadassah With Her iPhone 11, Daric Meditation Of Jesus Christ. Curator Dani Cade/Art Director/ BFA MarshallUniversity. Juror Pat Cross.
2023 WV Local Gallery 62 West & TCAC INC 25th Annual Memorial Day Juried Exhibition. Grafton, WV. Freedom, Self Portrait With a Traditional Chinese Fan, Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional, Curator Diane Parker.
2023 West Virginia University Hacking the Library Exhibition, Morgantown WV.Marshall University, Huntington, WV. A good success from the library's supportHonorable Feature Display. Curator Sally Brown/MA/WVU Libraries Exhibits andProgram Coordinator.
2023 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, Southern Gothic Exhibition. Beckley WV. Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat, Daric playing LEGO II. Curator Tamarack community.
2023 WV Local Morgantown Art Association 60 Annual Juried Exhibition. Morgantown, WV. Self portrait of GOD’s Calling, Disciple Of Christ. Curator Graham Berry UK.
2023 WV Local Tamarack Marketplace, Dickirson’s David L. Fine Arts Gallery, Eye of Art Exhibition. Beckley WV. Self Portrait With a Red Turban, Hadassah With Her iPhone 11, Daric Devotion Thinking of Jesus Christ. Curator Tamarack community.
2023 Eastern West Virginia Community Technical College, First Juried Art Show. Moorefield WV. Freedom, Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming. Curator Trent Montgomery/BFA, Juror Robert Singelton.
2023 WV Local Elkins Art Center, 2023 MSFF Fall Juried Art Exhibition. Elkins WV. Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming, Financial Miracle.Curator Dani Cade/Art Director/ BFA Marshall University. Juror Judy Foxx/MFA.
2023 WV Local Beckley Art Center, Juried Exhibition. Beckley WV. Heather With Her Skincare, Taylor With a White Chinese Traditional Coat. Curator Saja, judges NickTankersly and Domenica Queen.
2023 WVU Erickson Alumni Center, Artisan Showcase Arts Council of Greater Morgantown. Morgantown, WV. After Raphael, Study of La Fornarina, Self portrait of GOD’s Calling,Disciple Of Christ.Curator Beth Keener/MA.
2023 Marshall UniversitySchool of Art & Design, 12th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Huntington, WV. Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu, Hadassah With Her iPhone 11 Curator Neil Callander MFA Mason Gross School of Arts.
2022-2023 West Virginia University of The Watts Museum, WV Mineral Matters History Arts Group Exhibition, Morgantown, WV. Financial Miracle, WV Prosperous In 2022. Curator Danielle M. Petrak/MA Temple University. November 9, 2022 - May 26, 2023.
2022 WUV School of Art And Design, BFA Group Exhibition, Laura Mesaros Gallery, Morgantown, WV. Financial Miracle, Disciple of Christ,Heather With Her Skincare. Curator Shalya Marsh/MFA University of Nebraska.
2022 Slippery Rock University, Martha Gault Gallery. Associated Artists of Pittsburgh New Member Group Exhibition. Pittsburgh, PA. Portrait of Young Boy. Curator Dawn Henry/PHD/ AAP Exhibitions Coordinator. 2021-2022 WVU School of Art And Design, 10th Annual Juried Student Exhibition. Morgantown, WV. Self portrait with a Chinese Traditional fan, WVU Dean of Libraries Award.Curator Maritza Mosquera.
2022 WVU Evansdale library, Public Art Exhibition. Morgantown, WV. Self Portrait With a Chinese Traditional Fan. Curator Sally Brown/MA/WVU Libraries Exhibits and Program Coordinator.
2022 WVU Evansdale library, Public Art Exhibition. Morgantown, WV. Self portrait with a Chinese Traditional fan, Financial Miracle, Disciple of Christ, Heather With Her Skincare.Curator Sally Brown/MA/WVU Libraries Exhibits and Program Coordinator.
2022 WVU Hodges Hall Testing Center, Group Art Exhibition, Morgantown,WV. Taylor With a Red ChineseTraditional Coat. Curator Hanah Freeman/MFA.
2022 Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Group Art Exhibition celebrating 112 years. Pittsburgh, PA. Dream, private collection. Curator Dawn Henry/PHD/ AAP Exhibitions Coordinator.
2022 WV Local Elkins Art Center Juried Fall Art Exhibition. Elkins, WV. Disciple of Christ, Taylor with a White Chinese Traditional Coat, Honorable Mention. Curator Connie Mae Moeller. 2022 WV Local Morgantown Art Center, Monarchs Art Exhibition. Morgantown, WV Spring, Grafton Farm House. Curator Marly Ynigues MAC Board of Directors.
2020-2021 WVU School of Art & Design, 9th Annual Juried Student Exhibition. Morgantown, WV Taylor with a White Chinese Traditional Coat, Cynthia Myerberg Painting Award. Curator Alison Brand Oehler/ Vice President/ Gallery Director of Concept Art.
2019-2020 WVU School of Art And Design, 8th Annual Juried Student Exhibition, Morgantown, WV. Young Boy (Daric), Selected. Curator Leslie Golumb. Solo Exhibitions2023 WVU Erickson Alumni Center Nutting gallery, Arts Council, Solo Exhibition.Morgantown, WV. Curator Beth Keener/MA. January 5 - March 30, 2023
2023 WV Elkins Art Center, Solo Exhibition. Elkins, WVCurator Dani Cade/BFA/Director of Elkins Art Center. January 25 - March 27, 2023
Artworks Commissions/Collections2023 West Virginia State Museum officially collected Cydney with a ChineseTraditional Garment Han Fu to the museum’s art collection, Charleston WV.
2023 Rick Amari Private collector collected Self Portrait With a Red Turban. Gahanna, Ohio USA.
2022 Private Commission Mr. Willie Ponceroff, Fairmont, WV Jesus Second Coming, Oil paint on linen canvas.
2016 WV Public Commission, Monongalia Art Community Center, Morgantown, WVBlack Bear Wearing A Chinese Shirt, Acrylic paint on gesso sculpture, Private collected. 2014 China, Private Commission Miss. Tang Li Na, Changsha, China. American Farm, Oil paint on cotton canvas.
Work experiencesRuth Yang Painting, Fairmont, WV Independent Artist January, 2022-December, 2023WVU School of Art & Design, Morgantown, WV April, 2022 BFA Installation, Laura Mesaros Gallery, Artworks install Volunteer.Victoria Secret LLC, Morgantown, WV January, 2021-June, 2017 Sales & Support Generalist South TV Station, Guangzhou China August, 2008 -March 2006 TV-S3. Make-up ArtistOver Ocean Photography Wedding Company, HongKong China 2010 -September, 2008 Make-up Artist
Scholarly & Professional memberships2020- 2019 Faculty/Student Mentored Research Exhibition, Scholarly and Creative works WVU School of Art & Design, WV. August, 2019- May, 2020 2022 Member of Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA.2022 Member of Portrait Society of America, Tallahassee, FL. 2023-2024 Member of Elkins Art Center, Elkins, WV.2022-2024 Listing artist in WV Tamarack Foundation.
Professional Activity2023 WVU School of Art and Design Student Juried Exhibition. Sponsored a painting award.2022 WVU School of Art and Design Student Juried Exhibition. Sponsored a special painting award given to an excellent artwork.Publication2024 Alyssa M. Tidwell, International Artist Magazine Art Prize Challenge No. 139 People & Figures. Cydney with a Chinese Traditional Garment Han Fu Wendie Martin and Adolfo Castillo Publishers. Scottsdale, AZ. 02/03, 2024. 2024 Jack Walker, “WV Local Artist” Times West Virginian, January, 2024.
2023 West Virginia State Museum, featuring the Juried Exhibition on the upcoming Episode interviews top governor’s awarded artists, Library Television Network's YouTube channel and Local TV Channels. WV Library Commission's studio, WV Department of Arts, Culture and History. Charleston WV. January, 2024.
2023 Adam Payne, You’re Not Seeing Things, Bride Waiting For Groom Second Coming,West Virginia YNST Magazine Issue 2. Featured in printed issue, featured online. Morgantown WV. December, 2023.
2023 Jack Walker, “Fairmont artist wins second place in multi-state juried show.” Times West Virginian, Sep 8, 2023.
2023 West Virginia News “Liuqing Ruth Yang proudly displays her award-winning oil on canvas “Taylor with Chinese Traditional Coat.” West Virginia's Taylor County Arts Council announces Memorial Day Fine Art Exhibit winners. May 10, 2023
2021 WVU Libraries E-News, Libraries select two Student Art Award recipients. Liuqing Ruth Yang received the 2021 Dean of the Libraries’ Student Art Award.
Contact
- Miami, FL, USA
- ruthyangartist@gmail.com
- Mon-Fri - 08:00-19:00