Kia Ora, ko Ruby tōku ingoa.

Hello, my name is Ruby.

I am an artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Hailing from the tropical island of Sri Lanka where traditional art forms are in abundance, inspiration is everywhere. I had the privilege of learning about art, literature, music and theatre under the tutelage of my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.

My family immigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2008, where I had to navigate being a teenager starting high school in a new country. I was excited to attend art class as part of my school curriculum, which is where I felt most at home – and that’s when I began to understand that art is a universal language.

With each passing year, New Zealand became more and more like home, and I found myself getting creative in finding ways to ease my homesickness for Sri Lanka. I began exploring my inner world full of folktales, cultural heritage, and fond memories of my grandmother and great grandmother. My inheritance consisted of the stories they passed down, along with their love of folk art and literature.

Folk art traditions are universal and is its own visual language – it was instrumental in helping me find my voice as an artist, learn more about myself, and have a better understanding of the world around me.

A recurring theme I explore in my work is inspired by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw’s concept of intersectionality. The use of bright colours, ornamental motifs, and intricate patterns is not merely decorative but an intentional act of resistance. Queer joy and visibility are powerful forms of resistance – asserting the right to exist, to flourish, and to be accepted.