NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 89
Achild of the 1960s, Jorge
Ruiz-Martinez left Cuba
at age 7 to come to the
United States, where he
grew up studying architecture and
engineering, but eventually found
himself in the world of furniture and
home design and décor. As many
creative individuals do, he began
drawing in his own distinctive style
using a technique he devised with
charcoal. Ruiz-Martinez, who now
lives in Valrico, chose fashions of
different eras as his subjects. The
time periods tended to create their
own individualized looks. Inspired
by fashion and its interplay with
human emotions, he has developed
an iconic style that is nostalgic and
yet modern.
AARRTT
FASHIONS IN CHARCOAL
The Art of Jorge Ruiz-Martinez
By Aaron R. Fodiman
Artist Jorge Ruiz-Martinez
has a twinkle in his eye as he
contemplates his next drawing. What do you see in this charcoal by Jorge?