Ruth L. Poor (b. 1989), raised in Indiana, uses their work to dissect memories of the rural Midwest and to investigate intersections between power, American history, faith, and deviancy. Poor received their MFA from the Painting & Drawing department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and completed their B.A. in Studio Art and Religious Studies at Cornell College and DePauw University. They currently reside in Chicago, Illinois, where they teach at SAIC, North Central College, College of DuPage, and advise with the Prison + Neighborhood Arts Project. They have shown work nationally and internationally at venues such as the University of Chicago [Chicago, IL], A.C.L.I. Gallery [Monte Castillo di Vibio, Italy], Secrist|Beach Gallery [Chicago, IL], the New York Academy of Art [New York, NY], Zolla/Lieberman Gallery [Chicago, IL], Art EXPO [Chicago, IL], The Green Gallery [Milwaukee, WI], ADDS DONNA Gallery [Chicago, IL], Manifest Gallery [Cincinnati, OH], Woman Made Gallery [Chicago, IL], and Indiana University [Bloomington, IN]. They are also the current Artist-in-Residence with the Chicago Artist Coalition (2024-2026).

Headshot: Ricardo Bouyett

Image: Broken Covenant (After the World on a Foot), 2023, Found tapestry, embroidery, spray paint, acrylic, and oil on canvas, 18" x 24" x 1"

(updated 2025)