History — Ruth Arts

Photo courtesy of John Michael Kohler Arts Center

Art in preschools, art in factories, art along the rural highways of Wisconsin. Ruth DeYoung Kohler II (1941–2020) believed in everyone’s ability to process complex issues through artmaking and worked tirelessly to break down barriers and develop new connections to creativity. From the first arts-based preschool in the country, to the inimitable Arts/Industry residency, to her early and steadfast support of artist-built environments, craft practices, and self-taught artists, Ruth knew that art and life were beautifully intertwined. She always chose the road less traveled and showed us that creativity stems from who we are, not what we are told.

Most importantly, Ruth was deeply ambitious and believed in remaining innovative and curious. She was most attracted to those who pushed boundaries and who showed us something unexpected. Ruth was a champion of your untested idea, your latest drawing, your magical thinking, your silly doodle, and your furry friend.

In addition to serving as long-standing Director of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Ruth made significant contributions to the arts nationally, including serving as Chairman and Member of the Wisconsin Arts Board, acting as a panel member and site evaluator for the National Endowment for the Arts, and as Founder of the Preservation Committee of Kohler Foundation, Inc.

The combination of Ruth’s generosity and fearless commitment to the arts ultimately established the Ruth Foundation for the Arts which she seeded after her passing in 2020.

In 2022 the Board of Trustees—who were Ruth’s longtime advisors—appointed Karen Patterson as the inaugural Executive Director to steward the foundation, given her unique experience working and studying with Ruth for nearly a decade at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Mentored directly by Ruth, and bringing her own wealth of curatorial experience and commitment to artists and community, Karen launched the foundation anchored by Ruth’s innate understanding that artists are agents of change.

Today, with the help of a small but mighty team, Ruth Arts supports a dynamic cultural landscape in three distinct ways: grant programs for organizations nominated via Artist Choice, continuing Ruth’s personal giving, and an invite-only initiatives program designed as multi-year thinking partnerships.