Inaugurating our new space this fall

“From the start, we knew bringing people together would be paramount to our mission. Since launching in 2022, we have hosted three convenings and several events across multiple cities. The Ruth Arts galaxy of grantees is now filled with so many exceptional practitioners and organizations who are eager to collaborate and share ideas,” shared Executive Director Karen Patterson. “Opening a space in Milwaukee felt like a natural next step, as did partnering with grantees from the onset. This adds another opportunity for us to platform the integral role artists play in shaping our understanding of our world. Ruth’s love of artists went far beyond their finished artworks; she listened to their perspectives and devoted her life to building networks of support for their ideas to flourish.”

To launch their first year of programming, Ruth Arts is partnering with the Andrews-Humphrey Family Foundation to present an exhibition and related programming exploring the multifaceted practice of artist, educator, and activist Benny Andrews (1930–2006). The Andrews-Humphrey Family Foundation oversees the Benny Andrews Estate and is among the Ruth Arts inaugural grantee cohort of Thought Leaders, comprised of fourteen visionary leaders undertaking ambitious institutional initiatives.

Benny Andrews: Trouble
September 26, 2024 – February 7, 2025

This exhibition is the first major showing of Andrews’ artwork and archives together, created in close dialogue with the artist’s estate and many collaborators who will shine new light on his legacy. “Benny Andrews meticulously documented his life and work, and that of the community of artists around him,” explained Kyle Williams, Director of the Andrews-Humphrey Family Foundation. “It was his disposition to do so, but it was also a recognition that, as a Black artist painting in 1960s New York, no one else would. Today, when we encounter the depth and thoroughness of his archive, we can tell he envisioned it as a resource for the audiences, artists, and historians of the future—that he envisioned it for us. His work preserving this material should be viewed as part of his activism. Our foundation's mission is to tell that story and to make Andrews' art and archive accessible to all through exhibitions like this.”

Trouble demonstrates the various material strategies Andrews employed to get closer to his subjects, including himself. With paintings, collage, and works on paper spanning four decades, bolstered by an innovative presentation of his archive, the exhibition reflects the fullness of the artist’s practice, teachings and advocacy work. A year of robust programming honors and builds upon Andrews’ enduring legacy, ranging from a speaker series, performances, curriculum development, artist-led workshops, convenings, commissioned writings, and a podcast. Rooted in relation and exchange, the yearlong program forges new collaborations with Ruth Arts’ grantees and artist nominators, and provides an abundant context to further support their research and practices. 2024–2025 collaborators include: The Black Embodiments Studio, Rivers Institute, Connie H. Choi, Martina Dodd, Lauren Haynes, Tomashi Jackson, Alex Jackson, dr. monique liston, The Black Painters Academy, Cree Myles, Nadia Scott, Jordan Stein, Lowery Stokes Sims, Afro Charities, Burnaway, the WOW Project, the AUC Art History & Curatorial Studies Collective at Spelman College, Asian Arts Initiative, among many others.

Located at 325 W. Florida Street, Ruth Arts’ new space was originally constructed in 1914 for welding and manufacturing, and has subsequently housed a number of light industry operations over the past century, from bottling to a tool and die factory. This evolution of the building's use reflects the connection between industry and art that was instrumental to Ruth DeYoung Kohler II.Construction on the building began in the fall of 2023 with Milwaukee-based contractor One Source Construction. NYC-based firm MOS served as initial design consultant with additional design and fabrication collaborations with Soft Firm, Scathain, zakrose, and Matt Gramling.

Exhibition tours and open hours will be available by appointment and during public events. Core programming details for the coming year are expected to be released by mid-September; for sign-up details and an up-to-date schedule, stay tuned to our website or contact info@rutharts.org.

ABOUT BENNY ANDREWS (1930–2006)

Benny Andrews was an artist, educator and activist. He was born in Plainview, GA in 1930. After earning a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1958, Andrews moved to New York City, where he would live, work and paint for nearly five decades. As co-founder of the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition (BECC), Andrews agitated for greater representation of African American artists and curators in New York’s major art museums in the late 1960s and 70s, also developing a groundbreaking arts education program for prisons and detention centers. In addition to teaching art at Queens College for nearly three decades, Andrews served as the Director of the Visual Arts program for the National Endowment for the Arts from 1982 through 1984.

As a student in Chicago, Andrews began incorporating fabric and found materials into his figurative paintings, a technique he would continue throughout his career. In addition to working in oil and mixed-media collage, he made sculptures, prints and drawings. As an avid documenter, he kept an extensive archive of his life and practice. He also illustrated several books written by his brother, the author Raymond Andrews, as well as many children’s books, including a biography of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis. He continued his prolific practice, which ranged from explorations of history and social justice to intimate depictions of friends and family, until his death in 2006.

ABOUT THE ANDREWS-HUMPHREY FAMILY FOUNDATION

The non-profit Andrews-Humphrey Family Foundation builds knowledge and fosters understanding around the life and work of Benny Andrews. The foundation oversees the Benny Andrews Estate, which includes the artist’s personal archive and an extensive collection of his artworks located in his former studio in Brooklyn, NY. Its mission is to provide educational programming related to Andrews’ life and work, including online resources, student outreach, and access for artists, scholars and all those hoping to learn about Andrews’ contribution to the arts.

ABOUT THE RUTH FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

With an inventive approach to philanthropy and artistic support rooted in creativity, care, and experimentation, The Ruth Foundation for the Arts (Ruth Arts) launched in 2022 to support organizations in the visual arts, performing arts, and arts education. Leading with its flagship Artist Choice program that is guided by an artist-driven nomination process, the foundation continues to honor the legacy of its founder Ruth DeYoung Kohler II (1941–2020) with ten distinct grant programs that center the unconventional and the exciting. The foundation has awarded more than $25 million in grants to date.

Press inquiries may be directed to press@rutharts.org.