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.
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.
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.