Seattle artist, Ginny Ruffner, can’t be summed up in one word, but the most commonly used term is “inspiring.” In keeping with Ruffner’s own rejection of irony, pretension, and the high and lowbrow dichotomy, her use of lampworked glass for her unique and globally acclaimed art form revolutionized popular and critical opinions about this formally “kitsch.”
Adding to Ruffner’s extraordinary story is her astounding recovery from a near-fatal car accident in 1991 which left her in a coma for five weeks and confined to a hospital for five months. Doctors were convinced that she would never walk or talk again, but true to her indomitable spirit, Ginny Ruffner transformed a potentially tragic accident into a career of even more imaginative creations.
From pop-up books, to room-sized installation pieces, to public works, Ruffner’s art has blossomed and continues to expand.
In 2012, Ruffner was featured in a feature-length documentary called Ginny Ruffner: a not so still life. Focusing on her refusal to let a debilitating brain injury slow down her drive to create art, the film challenges viewers to see the world from a new and unexpected perspective.