M Rudder engages the intersections of the natural world, identity, the sacred and belonging – to ourselves – to each other – and to the earth. This work stems from their intersectional identity and the elders of indigenous traditions they have worked alongside in support of the decolonization of their communities and lifeways.
They are exploring how to create work that is deeply accessible to the public and that is also sustainable for their life and practices. How might ‘branding’ create belonging and meaning to people across wide-ranging socio-economic backgrounds, identities and worldviews and still be sustainable? How might this return us to a relationship with the natural world? And how can this work live across the divides that appear in the art world – the gallery, public art, and the commercial world?
They began their creative life drawing hippos and comics, and then created as a muralist and in contributing to theatrical set designs, having painted over a dozen public murals, and having contributed to over 30 theatrical performances. They moved from large-scale public work to textile-based installation and performance work during their time in Baltimore, MD where they studied, worked, and lived for nine years. Here they also worked within the fine art conservation field restoring historic gilded frames, and as a studio assistant to a public sculpture and installation artist and two fibers and textiles artists, all of whom have exhibited internationally. They then moved into their sketchbook when they packed up their life and headed to Los Angeles for three years, spending their free time drawing and hiking in the natural beauty of southern and central CA. These days their work ranges between representational and abstraction and takes the form of poetry, children’s books, drawings and paintings, objects, and installations.
