Meet Micah Ruiz | Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Micah Ruiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risktaking has been an overarching factor in my life in general, but especially with my artistic career. Much of my decisions in terms of my business have been major leaps of faith. Risk taking has played a major role in putting myself out there as an artist. It definitely plays a role in each time I release new items in my shop. I think to start your own business in general is a game of chance. No matter how much you plan and organize, success is still dependent on the community around you and how people respond to your work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a digital artist and sticker maker that specializes in hyper realism. I don’t really have a brand, I’m just myself. I lead with my passions and interests at heart. Right now, I am most excited about my recently opened monthly sticker club! It’s a very new monthly membership on my shop where supporters get stickers and prints every month. I’m a queer and trans person, and that is often present in my art. I’m someone that came out at a very young age and struggled a lot. in my own life, and in my artistic endeavors, I have relied a lot on community support. It wasn’t easy to get to where I am now, and I owe a lot to my friends, community and my followers for lifting me up throughout the years. I’ve struggled with my mental health for pretty much my whole life, and that continues to be a challenge. I want people to see that you can push through challenges by engaging in passions like art. I want to humanize trans people and advocate for our community, as well as uplift other marginalized voices. In my years as an artist, I’ve learned that persistence and taking up space is powerful in artistic endeavors and in life as a trans person. Just being yourself is a powerful thing, and people are receptive of authenticity and passion.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend from out of town was visiting San Diego for the first time, I would take them to spots that I really cherished growing up. I’m definitely prioritizing Balboa Park and all the museums; That could be a week long endeavor in itself! I would just fully embrace being a tourist in my hometown. I’d prioritize spending time at the beach, maybe Belmont Park, taking a trip to the zoo, and a night at Old Town. There are a lot of cool and historical areas to explore in San Diego. One of my favorite places is Balboa Park, though. The Museum of Us is always fun. I could spend hours there. I’d probably end that day with a visit to The Botanical Building or the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to first think all of my supporters, because none of this would be possible without community. I also want to thank all the queer and trans elders that came before me that fought hard so that I could have the life I have today. I want to thank my dear friend Bonnie Burke for always supporting and encouraging me throughout the years; Also for her passion for learning and experimentation with her own art. I also want to thank L Chin (@strawberrielarry) for being my friend, supporting me in many ways throughout our formative years, as well as financially supporting my art when I was struggling. Your tenacity and passion for creating is an inspiration.

Website: https://ko-fi.com/micahruiz

Instagram: micahruiz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicahRuizArt/

Other: https://micahruiz.tumblr.com