Gabriela Ruiz is the buzz of the L.A. art world. Her secret? Fluorescent everything

July 8, 2021 7:13 PM PT

Gabriela Ruiz aims to engage people in her world. Monochrome multimedia installations, sculptures exploring the surveillance of people of color at the laundromat, live performances where she’s dousing herself in Fabuloso over bubblegum pink bars of Zote. A color-drenched personal style, inspired by the video vixens of the early 2000s.

She’s the kind of artist whose work makes you go, “Yeah, she seems cool.”

Ruiz, a 30-year-old native of the San Fernando Valley, is a rising star in L.A.’s art scene. But her work speaks more to the everyday Angeleno — people like her stepdad, who runs a handyman business and often helps her build out her installations. Or Ruiz’s Jenni Rivera-loving sister, who may not be a regular at galleries but has a good eye for art.

“My goal is for people like my family, and people that don’t have a general understanding of art, to connect with the art,” Ruiz says. Her exhibition “Grounding, Prevent From Flying,” debuting at Paulina Lara’s new LaPau Gallery at 5 p.m. July 10, accomplishes just that.

Ruiz has performed and exhibited everywhere from Mexico to Belgium. But there’s always something special about showing her work at home in L.A., she says: “Having family and friends there, it’s just different. You know?”

Don’t miss “Grounding, Prevent From Flying,” running through Aug. 14. RSVP for the opening by emailing [email protected].