Troy Ruffels
My path to becoming an artist was significantly influenced by a deep connection Lutruwita/Tasmania, and its unique landscapes and environmental diversity - which continues to shape and guide my artistic vision and interests. Focussing on the relationship between human experience and the natural world through art has always been a way of navigating the world around me while fostering a profound internal appreciation for and curiosity about the environment.
Art serves as a bridge between human experience and the natural world, offering a means to explore and express the nuanced relationship between individuals and their environment. It embodies a space for communication and reflection, allowing me to delve into the complexities of how people perceive, interact with, and are influenced by the landscapes they inhabit. In my practice, art is not just a form of creative expression but a vehicle for fostering deeper understanding and appreciation of the environment, encouraging viewers to engage more thoughtfully with the world around them. Through this it holds the potential to drive personal, social and environmental awareness and change, and to evoke emotional responses and alter perceptions.
Over a decade ago, I was the founding Chair of Sawtooth ARI, with the vision of creating a nurturing space for artists to come together, collaborate, and express their creativity, all while exploring the nuances of our world. Today, I hold the organisation in high regard for its ongoing support of emerging artists and its commitment to promoting a diverse and inclusive array of contemporary artists and voices. Sawtooth ARI reflects my personal journey and the values I celebrate, serving as an embodiment of my belief in art's power to foster connections, spark meaningful conversations about our current world, and act as a catalyst for understanding, exploration, and change. My heartfelt gratitude goes to all the board members, past and present, who generously dedicate their time to sustain this essential platform, and to the staff and volunteers whose passion and energy breathe such spirit into Sawtooth ARI.
Biography
Troy Ruffels is a visual artist and researcher from lutruwita/Tasmania. His work is centred on understanding how our perceptions and experiences of places shape our knowledge of the environment.
Troy is particularly interested in the concept of place-based immersion and its impact on our connection to the world around us. He believes in the transformative power of culture to drive social and environmental change, using his art to alter how people engage with and perceive their surroundings.
After receiving his BFA Honours degree from the Tasmanian School of Art in Hobart in 1996, Troy's career has been marked by significant achievements. He is a recipient of the prestigious Anne and Gordon Samstag International Visual Art Scholarship, which allowed him to study and exhibit in Glasgow, Scotland. He also completed a Doctorate at the University of Tasmania's School of Creative Arts.
Troy's artistic journey includes a memorable year-long residency in Malaysia at Rimbun Dahan, which greatly influenced his work. He has held over 30 solo exhibitions and participated in over 250 group shows worldwide, earning numerous awards and commissions. His art, encompassing photography and painting, is featured in various prestigious collections, including The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, The Queen Victorian Museum and Art Gallery, and throughout the MACQ01 Storytelling hotel on Hobart’s waterfront. Troy's work continues to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the places we inhabit, his most recent exhibition at Bett Gallery Hobart ‘stone tides weeping trees’ focused on Tasmania’s Central highland plateau, and the plight of the Cider Gums, upon which the work donated for this series was based.
Troy is represented by Bett Gallery Hobart, and is a Lecturer in Fine Art at UTAS at the College of Media and Arts, Inveresk. He was the founding Chair of the Artist-run Initiative, Sawtooth and is currently presiding Chair of the Board of Directors for Contemporary Art Tasmania.