Abbi Ruppert, a member of Owensboro Community and Technical College’s art faculty and visual art program coordinator, is being featured in a statewide juried exhibition over the next few weeks.
This exhibit, “In CommonWealth: Kentucky Art, Craft, & Design,” will be at Eastern Kentucky University’s Giles Gallery in Richmond througy February 20. It showcases 57 selected works from more than 200 submissions.
The exhibit highlights the connections between art, craft, and design. It explores the Kentucky landscape, both rural and urban, and focuses on key motivations behind creative work, such as personal expression, functionality, problem-solving, and tradition. By bringing these areas together, In CommonWealth encourages conversations about both the similarities and differences in how art is made in Kentucky.
“I am thrilled to take part in this exhibition celebrating Kentucky’s rich creative dialogue and excited to connect with some of our greatest contemporary artists from across the Commonwealth,” Ruppert said. “I graciously appreciate my colleagues at OCTC for supporting me along my professional artistic career. Staying creatively and professionally fulfilled ensures that I show up as the best possible mentor for my students. By actively continuing to create and share my work, I hope my students witness a firsthand example that a flourishing art practice is possible.”
In addition to having her work featured, Ruppert will attend a reception and networking event later this semester to connect with other artists and educators from across Kentucky.
Ruppert joined OCTC’s faculty on August 1, 2023. She is a sculptor, printmaker, and installation artist whose work has gained recognition in multiple venues. Her achievements include a large-scale public installation on WVU’s Evansdale Campus; a Rooms to Let installation in Cleveland, Ohio; and awards such as the People’s Choice Award for her sculpture Revival in the Art in Public Places exhibition in Knoxville, Tennessee.
“We are thrilled to see Abbi Ruppert representing our college in such a prestigious exhibit,” said OCTC president Dr. Scott Williams. “Her talent and dedication to her craft are an inspiration to our students and a testament to the quality of education and creativity we foster at OCTC.”
Dr. Meredith Skaggs, head of the Heritage, Humanities, and Fine Arts department at OCTC added, “Abbi leads our Visual Arts students in and out of the classroom. Abbi’s inclusion in this exhibit demonstrates her artistic talent and respect from her peers but also gives our students courage by leading the way in sharing her work in public spaces. I’m proud to of Abbi’s leadership and artistry.”
For more information about Ruppert and her work, visit abbiruppert.com. Those interested in taking any art classes or joining the OCTC Associate in Fine Arts – Visual Art program can contact Ruppert at [email protected].