“ARIEL IN NJ”: Works by the late Ariel Ruvinsky will be on view in the Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School September 12 through December 5. A public reception is on September 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. (Image courtesy of the Ruvinsky Family)
The Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School will present “Ariel in NJ,” opening on September 12, with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on the same day. The exhibition features textiles, performance artifacts, design, and wearable works by the late Ariel Ruvinsky ‘08. The exhibition will be on view through December 5.
Ruvinsky grew up in central New Jersey and graduated from Princeton Day School. She received her MFA in fiber Art from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BA in fine art and history of art from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions in London, Brooklyn, and New Jersey, including at Latymer Projects, Greenpoint Gallery, and the Straube Center.
During her years at Princeton Day School, Ruvinsky began a transformative relationship with former visual arts faculty member Jerry Hirniak, whose mentorship laid the foundation for her expansive and experimental approach to art making and design. Her practice was an ever-curious pursuit of learning that wove together research, play, and exquisite craftsmanship. Her garden, extensive library, and studio served as laboratories for layered inquiry, where the boundaries between daily life and performance became increasingly blurred.
Navigating illness and seclusion led Ruvinsky to identify with hermetic figures — the nun, Santa Claus, and witch — which she often incorporated into her artwork. Hybridity was central to Ruvinsky’s creative philosophy. She explored the human as cyborg, part biological and part technological, and saw pathways of medical trials, immune therapies, and implanted devices as sites where this hybridity could first emerge.
Her compassion manifested in practical design, creating clothing specifically for people with medical ports — garments that granted dignity, beauty, and ease while accommodating their needs. This vision extended throughout her art, where she combined sustainable, locally sourced materials with digital design processes, experimenting with “living” textiles that sprouted seeds and plants, bridging nature, technology, and the human body.
Under the pseudonym Ariel in NJ, Ruvinsky found success in the fashion world, designing shoes, knitwear, clothing, and accessories that merged bold aesthetics with intentional craftsmanship. In 2024, musician Chappell Roan wore Ruvinsky’s shoes for a Rolling Stone interview, showcasing the distinctive spirit of her designs and their resonance in contemporary culture.
Collaboration was fundamental to Ruvinsky’s practice. She worked extensively with writer Robin Grearson, pattern maker Calli Roche, and many other creatives across the country and globe, fostering connections that enriched her artistic vision.
This exhibition brings together in-progress and completed designs that document and embody these collaborations, offering visitors a glimpse into Ruvinsky’s world of restless, passionate study and wonder. Her legacy invites us to consider the value of curiosity as a form of care, connection, and engagement with the world around us.
The Anne Reid ‘72 Gallery at Princeton Day School is located at 650 Great Road. For more information, visit pds.org/gallery.