Ruth Cleland

Ruth Cleland (born 1976) is a New Zealand artist, based in Auckland. Her works are held in the collection of Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Cleland is known for her photo-realist paintings and pencil drawings of suburban landscapes, and her abstract grid works. Cleland lives in Auckland with her husband and fellow photo-realistic artist Gary McMillan.

Biography Cleland was born in Hamilton in 1976 and raised in Gordonton. In 1998 she gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Dunedin School of Art, Otago Polytechnic, and completed her Master of Fine Arts in 2002. It was at the Dunedin School of Art where she met Gary McMillan, also from the Waikato. Her subjects were familiar but overlooked objects and areas, such as corners of rooms, light fittings and ceiling cornices. Cleland presented a series of these suburbia works in 2006 at Blue Oyster Gallery in Dunedin. After moving to Auckland in 2006, Cleland began focusing on shopping malls.

Cleland lists Latvian-born American artist Vija Celmins among her influences, famous for her accurately rendered images of nature. Concrete Abstraction (2016) at Melanie Roger Gallery, Auckland. Grid (2014) at Window Gallery, University of Auckland. Inland Empire (2013), Calder & Lawson Gallery, University of Waikato, and Corban Estate Art Centre, Auckland. A duo exhibition with husband and fellow artist, Gary McMillan. Sunny Days (2006) at Blue Oyster Gallery, Dunedin. Saunter (2002) at Hocken Library, Dunedin.

Awards

2014 Highly commended finalist in the Wellington-based Parkin Drawing Prize for 2014, for her work Parking Building Detail with Grid. 2008 Park Lane Wallace Trust Development Award for her work Level 2. 2004 Merit Award, National Drawing Award, Artspace, Auckland, and Physics Room, Christchurch 2003 First Prize, Waikato National Art Award, Hamilton 2001 First Prize, Cranleigh Barton National Drawing Award, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Graeme Edwards Master of Fine Arts Scholarship, Dunedin School of Art