Ruth Proctor

Working across diverse media, including sculpture, photography, and performance, Proctor’s practice frequently investigates themes of ephemerality, place, time, and artifice.

Biography of Ruth Proctor

Ruth Proctor was born in 1980. She studied at the Kingston University, earning a BA in Fine Art in 2003. Later, she attended the Royal College of Art, obtaining an MA in Painting (2005). 

Her performances have been presented internationally at institutions including Whitechapel Gallery, London (2017); Museo Nacional de Arte MUNAL, Mexico City (2017); Nida Art Colony, Lithuania (2017); as well as Camden Art Centre, London (2013) and Somerset House, London (2018).

The artist's solo exhibitions have been held at various venues, including Norma Mangione Gallery in Turin, Hollybush Gardens in London, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich,  Siobhan Davies Dance Studios in London, and many others.

Additionally, Proctor's works have been featured in group shows, including "Qui Dove Ci Incontriamo" at Norma Mangione Gallery in Turin (2019), "Empty your Lungs as Much as Possible and Repeat the Exercise" at Arcade in London (2018), "Every Object is a Thing but not Every Thing is an Object" at Hollybush Gardens in London (2018), among others.

Currently, the artist lives and works in London, UK.

Ruth Proctor's Famous Works

Proctor's renowned performances include "All My Failures Turning into a Hill" (2015), "A Handful of Dust" (2017), and "If the Sky Falls" (2017), among others. 

"If the Sky Falls" a performance first created for Whitechapel Gallery, involves a site-specific walk by the artist that adapts to each location where it is performed. As the artist moves from place to place, a trail of smoke lingers, seemingly drawing within the space. The work serves as a marking of time and place that is both tangible and intangible, social and spatial, seeking to capture a fleeting present that resists being fixed, ultimately existing only in the memories of those who witness it.

Her films and slide shows include "Le Double" (2008), "Super Ruda" (2010), "Drum Dance" (2010), and "Ok, Set, Drop" (2013). 

Additionally, Ruth Proctor produced numerous installations and sculptures, including "Contort Yourself," (2007), "Popova’s Dream" (2008), "Putting it on" (2015), "Smoke Signals" (2015), "Time Machine" (2015), "Got My Eyes On You" (2014-2016), and many more. 

Ruth Proctor's Art Style

The artist's work is shaped by the spaces and times she inhabits. Drawing inspiration from details in theater, performance, and her surroundings, she creates objects that transcend the context that initially inspired them. Much like the Impressionists, Proctor's work often captures fleeting moments—brief instances held in time. Whether through performance, temporary interventions, or permanent artworks, her creations evoke beauty in a world where nothing lasts forever.