The Brain on Art Series: Introducing Ruth Kelly-Koebel
Ruth Kelly-Koebel, is a multidisciplinary artist based out of the Kawartha Lakes.
Kawartha Art Gallery met Ruth when she was a student at I.E. Weldon High School in Lindsay and she exhibited in several of I.E. Weldon’s IB art exhibits at the Gallery.
Ruth graduated from Ottawa University 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Art and in returning to the Kawartha Lakes after graduation, the Gallery had the good fortune to hire Ruth.
As an artist Ruth’s practice explores bold colours, dynamic patterns, and playful textural elements through painting and multimedia installation. Ruth is deeply fascinated by the challenge of transforming ordinary, everyday materials into extraordinary works of art, pushing the limits of what is expected.
Ruth thrives on reimagining objects and reworking them into larger-than-life installations, blending fine detail with expansive forms that captivate and draw viewers in.
At the heart of Ruth’s work is a commitment to creating sensory, tactile experiences that invite joy, relaxation, and creative flow.
Ruth wants her art to encourage open engagement, where viewers can immerse themselves and connect with a piece on both an emotional and physical level. Through abstraction and innovation, Ruth’s aim is to create playful works that challenge perceptions and offer delight through unexpected transformations and material combinations, making the ordinary feel extraordinary.
With each piece, she strives to transform the mundane into the unexpected and the playful into the profound creating a celebration of creativity, materiality, and the joy of discovery.
Ruth’s thoughts on the Arts:
Art has always been more than just a creative outlet for me, it has been a form of escape, healing, and expression when words fall short. For those who struggle to articulate complex emotions, art offers a different kind of language built through colour, texture, and form. My personal practice is very meditative and has the power to calm the mind, spark joy, and help process emotions without having to fully understand them. The journey to finding a personal artistic style is often filled with trial and error. It took me years of exploration, experimentation, and uncertainty before something truly clicked. But when it did, a deep sense of connection to the process, a feeling of flow and presence made creating feel so natural and fulfilling. The meditative state where time fades and focus sharpens, is one of the most rewarding aspects of making art. It becomes more than just a practice; it becomes a source of peace, purpose, and continuous inspiration. Art is extremely valuable as it brings people together through shared experiences, collaboration, and creative spaces where vulnerability is welcomed. It fosters empathy, encourages dialogue, and reminds us that we are not alone in what we feel. The value goes far beyond the individual; it strengthens communities and helps us all see the world a little more clearly.
