Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
@athipatraruga.bsky.social
South African artist who uses performance, painting, video, textiles to explore notions of utopia in relation to post-Apartheid, material and memory. His work explores the body in relation to sensuality and ideology,often creating cultural hybrids.
Pinned
The Clown of Fort Glamorgan
Athi-Patra Ruga
Oil on canvas
80 x 80 cm
2024
Athi-Patra Ruga
Oil on canvas
80 x 80 cm
2024
Happy Valentines Art Lovers .
(“I’m smiling on the inside bih!”)
(“I’m smiling on the inside bih!”)
February 14, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Happy Valentines Art Lovers .
(“I’m smiling on the inside bih!”)
(“I’m smiling on the inside bih!”)
Opening tomorrow
“Cameos from athe Frontier.”
14/02
“Cameos from athe Frontier.”
14/02
February 13, 2026 at 2:17 AM
Opening tomorrow
“Cameos from athe Frontier.”
14/02
“Cameos from athe Frontier.”
14/02
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
Make a place for me on the Ark of Bones.
@fordhampress.bsky.social
@fordhampress.bsky.social
February 12, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Make a place for me on the Ark of Bones.
@fordhampress.bsky.social
@fordhampress.bsky.social
Azania
Stainedglass, lead, glaze.
2013
Stainedglass, lead, glaze.
2013
February 11, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Azania
Stainedglass, lead, glaze.
2013
Stainedglass, lead, glaze.
2013
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
A personal relationship with the late artist and his defiant, fiery work artreview.com/one-day-this...
“One Day This Boy…”: How David Wojnarowicz Gave Me Life
The author of 'I Will Greet the Sun Again' chronicles a personal relationship with the late artist and his defiant, fiery work
artreview.com
January 29, 2026 at 10:05 AM
A personal relationship with the late artist and his defiant, fiery work artreview.com/one-day-this...
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
I went through a little bit more of the Asian Art Museum, mostly the Indian and Iranian art, and some of the Chinese art. That museum sprawls a little, and I kept getting lost.
Then, it was off to the African Art Museum. First stop was the queer art exhibition.
Then, it was off to the African Art Museum. First stop was the queer art exhibition.
January 23, 2026 at 11:03 PM
I went through a little bit more of the Asian Art Museum, mostly the Indian and Iranian art, and some of the Chinese art. That museum sprawls a little, and I kept getting lost.
Then, it was off to the African Art Museum. First stop was the queer art exhibition.
Then, it was off to the African Art Museum. First stop was the queer art exhibition.
Interview with Artthrob Chief Editor Nkgopoleng Moloi for my first US institutional .
#athipatraruga
#athipatraruga
Bathing in Paradox: An Interview with Athi-Patra Ruga - ArtThrob
The following is an edited conversation between Athi-Patra Ruga and Nkgopoleng Moloi, a few months before the opening of Ruga’s exhibition at the Leslie Lohman Museum, titled ‘Athi-Patra Ruga: Lord, ...
share.google
January 29, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Interview with Artthrob Chief Editor Nkgopoleng Moloi for my first US institutional .
#athipatraruga
#athipatraruga
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art@smithsonian_africanart ! Curated by Kevin Dumouchelle & Serubiri Moses.
This exhibition is the largest and first show (outside of Africa) to focus on out artists making work about their identities, experiences, worldviews, and communities.
#athipatraruga
This exhibition is the largest and first show (outside of Africa) to focus on out artists making work about their identities, experiences, worldviews, and communities.
#athipatraruga
January 28, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art@smithsonian_africanart ! Curated by Kevin Dumouchelle & Serubiri Moses.
This exhibition is the largest and first show (outside of Africa) to focus on out artists making work about their identities, experiences, worldviews, and communities.
#athipatraruga
This exhibition is the largest and first show (outside of Africa) to focus on out artists making work about their identities, experiences, worldviews, and communities.
#athipatraruga
Versatile Queen: A Transhuman Proposal
2016
Wool and thread on tapestry canvas
Smithsonian Museum purchase, 2024-8-1.
#athipatraruga
#queerart
#blackart
#protectthedolls
2016
Wool and thread on tapestry canvas
Smithsonian Museum purchase, 2024-8-1.
#athipatraruga
#queerart
#blackart
#protectthedolls
January 28, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Versatile Queen: A Transhuman Proposal
2016
Wool and thread on tapestry canvas
Smithsonian Museum purchase, 2024-8-1.
#athipatraruga
#queerart
#blackart
#protectthedolls
2016
Wool and thread on tapestry canvas
Smithsonian Museum purchase, 2024-8-1.
#athipatraruga
#queerart
#blackart
#protectthedolls
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
“Decolonization cannot be conditional. It cannot operate on the assumption that Western institutions are the most competent custodians of non-Western heritage. Nor can it coexist with legal frameworks designed to protect the spoils of empire.” –Emiline Smith
British Museum Launches Farcical “Decolonizing” Loan Program
Long-term loans to former colonies are not restitution. They do not acknowledge historical wrongdoing, nor do they restore agency to source communities.
hyperallergic.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:42 PM
“Decolonization cannot be conditional. It cannot operate on the assumption that Western institutions are the most competent custodians of non-Western heritage. Nor can it coexist with legal frameworks designed to protect the spoils of empire.” –Emiline Smith
January 26, 2026 at 11:08 AM
January 25, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
On January 20th, one year into Trump's second term, do I really need to remind you?
zeteo.com/p/our-year-f...
zeteo.com/p/our-year-f...
January 20, 2026 at 2:55 PM
On January 20th, one year into Trump's second term, do I really need to remind you?
zeteo.com/p/our-year-f...
zeteo.com/p/our-year-f...
Thank you to all with eyes to see and hearts to feel .
“Lord I gotta keep on (moving)”
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, NY.
#africanart
#queerart
#figurativeart
#athipatraruga
“Lord I gotta keep on (moving)”
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, NY.
#africanart
#queerart
#figurativeart
#athipatraruga
January 16, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Thank you to all with eyes to see and hearts to feel .
“Lord I gotta keep on (moving)”
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, NY.
#africanart
#queerart
#figurativeart
#athipatraruga
“Lord I gotta keep on (moving)”
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, NY.
#africanart
#queerart
#figurativeart
#athipatraruga
Studio jamming to Philip Glass’s ‘Satyagraha’ got me thinking about Gandhi’s time in South Africa. It’s fascinating how non-violent resistance worked for Gandhi but was a different story for Black South Africans during apartheid armed struggle . A lot to unpack there 🤣
January 15, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Studio jamming to Philip Glass’s ‘Satyagraha’ got me thinking about Gandhi’s time in South Africa. It’s fascinating how non-violent resistance worked for Gandhi but was a different story for Black South Africans during apartheid armed struggle . A lot to unpack there 🤣
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
The artist and curator selected to represent South Africa at this year’s Venice Biennale have appealed to the country’s president to intervene after their pavilion was cancelled by a government minister.
buff.ly/rs3Gkx0
buff.ly/rs3Gkx0
January 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The artist and curator selected to represent South Africa at this year’s Venice Biennale have appealed to the country’s president to intervene after their pavilion was cancelled by a government minister.
buff.ly/rs3Gkx0
buff.ly/rs3Gkx0
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
“Long-term loans are not restitution. They do not acknowledge historical wrongdoing, nor do they restore agency to source communities. Instead, they reinforce a museum’s claim of ownership over objects it has no moral (and often legal) right to possess.” –Emiline Smith
buff.ly/5rMvteu
buff.ly/5rMvteu
January 11, 2026 at 2:32 PM
“Long-term loans are not restitution. They do not acknowledge historical wrongdoing, nor do they restore agency to source communities. Instead, they reinforce a museum’s claim of ownership over objects it has no moral (and often legal) right to possess.” –Emiline Smith
buff.ly/5rMvteu
buff.ly/5rMvteu
Last Weekend to see our first institutional show in the US - Lord I’ve gotta keep on (moving).
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, New York .
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, New York .
January 9, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Last Weekend to see our first institutional show in the US - Lord I’ve gotta keep on (moving).
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, New York .
Leslie Lohman Museum
Manhattan, New York .
Magnolia infused turps could be a vibe … a mood .
December 31, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Magnolia infused turps could be a vibe … a mood .
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
mods are asleep post Rare Kate Bush
December 27, 2025 at 10:07 AM
mods are asleep post Rare Kate Bush
December 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Reposted by Athi-Patra Ruga & Studio
“CRASH”
Marker on paper, collage, 2025.
Marker on paper, collage, 2025.
December 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM
“CRASH”
Marker on paper, collage, 2025.
Marker on paper, collage, 2025.
December 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM