Biography
Ruby Andromeda Miller is based in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, along the coast of the majestic Lake Superior. Originally from Mid-Michigan, she grew up in the Lansing area and earned her BFA in Sculpture at Grand Valley State University and an Associates in Welding Technology at Grand Rapids Community College. Her professional experience as a welder and seamstress are fundamental to her art practices, always with a foundation of observing, writing, and drawing. She has exhibited and taught in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York.
Artists Statement
Most of my work plays with notions of memory and the ‘ghosts’ fostered in the everyday objects that surround us. I work with a variety of methods and materials- carefully drawn walnuts, thread-webbed scraps of metal, manipulated, beaded, cast metals, welded steel, collaged and painted bits of fabric joined with ambiguous found objects. One of my most common working methods is to apply textile techniques to alternative materials- for example; metals, found objects and trash materials.
These materials and methods point to edges, physical and metaphorical. Influenced by my rural upbringing where the borders between the natural and artificial world were fuzzier- assemblages often incorporate materials that have lived out their intended life and end up suspended in states of relative decay. Sometimes there is an element of sweetness and sentimentality, but always with a shade of the feral. Other pieces speak more directly to the ways in which living along an edge leaves one vulnerable to unpredictable forces and makes the point that nature often lacks a sense of justice. I explore the detritus of human habitation and the natural world in a way that invites the audience to see themselves as fellow animals, ultimately using the same resources/spaces and leaving things behind.
These transformations invite engagement with a greater degree of curiosity and creativity. Through sharing my careful observations and surprising combinations, I hope people will look at the world around them with a heightened sense of the vibrant, magical and mysterious.
CV
Exhibitions
Sense of Direction – Small group exhibition with Amber Dohrenwend and Emily Weddle. Lake Effect Community Arts Center, Manistique MI, 2025
Detritus Mine – Solo exhibition. Deo Gallery, Marquette MI, 2025
Wave/Length – Multimedia installation, collaboration with Kimberly Turner, Bay College. Escanaba, MI, 2025
Detritus Mine – Solo exhibition. Hartwig Gallery, Bay College. Escanaba, MI, 2025
North of the 45th – (juried group exhibition) DeVos Art Museum, Northern Michigan University. Marquette, MI, 2022 & 2023
Wave/Length – Multimedia installation, collaboration with Kimberly Turner, Octagon Gallery in Peterson Library, Westfield, New York, 2021
Those Spaces Between Us – Target Gallery, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Juried group show curated by Leslie Mounaime. Alexandria, Virginia, 2021
Labirynth and Playground – Ongoing installation of site-specific, interactive sculpture, Earthwork Farm, Lake City, Michigan, created 2015-2017
Over 100 Under 100 – 3rd on 3rd Gallery, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, Juried group show. Jamestown, New York, 2017
ArtPrize – Annual Art Festival and Competition. DeVos Hall, Grand Rapids Michigan, 2014
45th Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts – Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, Two sculptures shown in a group art exhibition. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2014
Women in Metal Water Street Glassworks Studio, Sculpture exhibition with Pam Nivala, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 2013
Promises, Promises and Stories to Tell Pub 43, Exhibition with three other artists. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2012
Site Lab: Blanford Nature Center – Installation as part of a group exhibition. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2012
Active Site – Annual moving site-specific installation and sculpture. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008-2010
SMart Festival – Open Concept Gallery, Large scale digital and mixed media installation. Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2009
Spectre – BFA Exhibition, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan, 2008
Allendale Public Fountain Project – Grand Valley State University, $40,000 public commission for Allendale Township. Collaborative Project. Allendale, Michigan, 2007-2008
Self Portraits – Muskegeon Museum of Art, Invitational group exhibition of self portraits. Muskegeon, Michigan, 2004
Awards & Honors
LaFontsee Gallery 3D Award – Award for sculpture submitted to Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts, 2014
Martha Despres Memorial Award – Award for sculpture submitted to Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts, 2014
Ox Bow School of Art and Artists’ Residency – Beginning Blacksmithing: Merit Scholarship through Ox-Bow/GVSU, 2006
Grand Valley State University – Fine Arts Department Foundation Portfolio Recognition and Scholarship, 2004
Employment & Service
UP Rural Community Organizer – We the People Michigan, 2023 – Present
Mentor and Program Development – Rabbit Island Foundation, Rabbit Island School. Calumet, MI 2021 – Present
Rural Action Council Coordinator and Consultant – We the People Michigan, 2022 – 2023
REVOLVE CC – Creative Collaboration Conference Board of Directors, Director of Development. Marquette, MI 2021 – 2023
Clothing Repair and Alterations – The Stitch Witch. Marquette, MI 2020 – 2022
Alger County Deep Canvassing Lead for 2020 – We the People Michigan. Alger County, MI 2020
Marquette Artists Collective Board of Directors, Member Relations Committee Chairperson, Gatherings Committee, Gallery Committee. Marquette, MI 2019 – 2020
Private Art Lessons – Lakewood, New York, 2017
Art of Botanical Drawing: Drawing and Watercolor Workshop – Developed and taught workshop with Kim Turner. Jamestown, New York, 2017
Organizational Consultant and Receptionist – Audubon Community Nature Center. Jamestown, NY 2016 – 2017
Welder for ultrasonic cleaning units, Stainless steel TIG – Miraclean Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions. Ashville, NY 2015 – 2016
Instructor for sculptural metals classes – Water Street Glassworks Studio. Benton Harbor, MI 2012 – 2013
Welder for industrial scale radiators, Aluminum TIG – MAHLE. Grand Rapids, MI 2012 -2015
Education
Associates Welding Technology Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI 2014
Grand Valley State University Bachelor of Fine Arts, Sculpture, 2008. Study Abroad in Ghana, West Africa, 2007
Andromeda Studio 