Sara Jean Ruiz is interested in the type of emotional intensity that is stereotypical of teenage girls, the bodily impact it has, and the idea of treating these experiences with a seriousness they are rarely afforded. Sara works with words, various printmaking techniques, textiles, gum, digital media, found objects, and that feeling you have when you are 14 in a dressing room with your mom and she says something about your legs. And you think about it for the whole ride home. And sometimes you still think about it now. Sara received her Masters of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University in 2023, with a specialization in printmaking. She now resides in Pittsburgh, PA where she works as an Early Childhood Educator and continues her art practice in her home studio.