Ruby Williams

Ruby C. Williams is a folk artist and produce vendor in Florida, United States.[1]

She was born and grew up in Bealsville, Florida[2] - a community formed by freed slaves in 1865. She then became a minister in New Jersey.[3] Since returning to Florida she has run a produce stand and "walk in" gallery on State Road 60 since the early 1980s.[2]

Williams is a self-taught artist.[3] Her career in folk art got going in 1991 when passer-by Rodney Hardee noticed her brightly painted signs[2] advertising her fruits and vegetables. With the coaxing from him and others, Ruby, a spiritual businesswoman, minister and grandmother embarked on the journey that has led her into classrooms, galleries and museums in Florida, as well as nationally. Recently Ruby illustrated a children's book titled, I Am Ruby. Her art and produce stand are covered by Jeff Klinkenberg in a section of his book Seasons of Florida.

Ruby Williams was honored with the 2005 Florida Folk Heritage Award[4] and was included in the show, "On Their Own - Selected Self-taught Artists" at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum in Washington D.C.[5]

References
  1. "RUBY C. WILLIAMS". alumnus.caltech.edu. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  2. Phil Attinger "Folk Artist Ruby Williams Imparts Life Lessons to Students", The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), 20 November 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  3. Amber Jurgensen "Plant City celebrates artist Ruby Williams", Plant City Observer, 13 September 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  4. "Ruby C. Williams ( - )". Florida Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. "Anacostia Museum Opens Three Exhibitions Celebrating the Work of Self-taught African-American Artists" (PDF). Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture. 20 April 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
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