When Sonora, Mexico native Patricia Ruiz-Healy, the proprietor and director of her company the Ruiz-Healy Art gallery, followed a year of study in Mexico City with a year in London, everything changed.

“The world opened up to me. There was so much culture, theater, opera and art. It was then that I knew what I wanted to do with my life.” The dream continued with her marriage to Juan Ruiz-Healy who wanted to be a painter when he was young and grew up with art in his home and whose parents were passionate about art appreciation. Her husband’s work as a journalist had the family relocating to Miami where he worked as the nightly news anchor for the Spanish International Network now known as Univision. After that post the family moved to San Antonio where they established their home and their daughters were raised.

Ruiz-Healy holds a Master’s Degree in Art History from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has done postgraduate work in London, England at Sotheby’s Institute of Art and Courtauld Institute of Art, and is the author of the recently published book, Mathias Goeritz. In 2006 she opened her Olmos Park gallery — at that time it was by appointment only, focusing on what she knew best and was most familiar with, notable Latin American artists. With its success, she expanded the business to have retail hours and a wider range of art to include local artists. Now, a decade later, she says there are two columns her gallery is built on — one column is Latin American and the second is Texas-connected artists. Ruiz-Healy explains, “I identified the underrepresentation of Texas artists who didn’t have a way to gain wider exposure with curators and collectors. Beyond local artists, there are very talented artists across the state, as well as those that live elsewhere but are influenced by Texas in their work.”

The desire to share that talent with a broader audience was key in Ruiz-Healy’s exhibitions in Mexico City and San Antonio when she partnered with Galería Karen Huber in Mexico City and curator Octavio Avendaño Trujilo. Held earlier this year, the San Antonio exhibit, Straight from Mexico, featured four Mexican artists while the Straight from San Antonio exhibit held in Mexico City featured five Alamo City artists with Conceptual and Abstract backgrounds who all have exhibited locally. Ruiz-Healy says, “Mexico City is a cultural center with a strong artistic base and was wonderful exposure for the San Antonio artists. Contemporary Art is strong in both cities and the dual exhibits strengthen that connection.”

In 2013 Ruiz-Healy added a by-appointment-only New York City gallery in Park Avenue and 79th street where her daughter Patti has recently joined the family business after working for Sotheby’s Auction, New York City. Ruiz-Healy is a fine art print dealer, a member of the prestigious International Fine Prints Dealers Association (IFPDA) and one of only three in Texas. The New York City gallery has allowed her to bring art to collectors and buyers there, but also to prestigious print fairs like the upcoming IFPDA Print Fair in the Park Avenue Armory where the top fine art prints and original prints from around the world will be available. “It’s such an honor to be participating in the New York show,” says Ruiz-Healy who’s also very active in other important art festivals in New York City and Miami where she showcases her Texas artists.

“It’s a wonderful service for your patrons that you have relationships with and can introduce those artists to America.” Being an avid collector of many years has given her special access to important European, Mexican and American galleries and collections, as well as personal relationships with the artists that Ruiz-Healy Art represents. Ruiz-Healy is the exclusive representative for the estate of Chuck Ramirez and offers photographs of the beloved San Antonio artist whose work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. His large format, limited edition photograph, Seven Days: Breakfast Tacos, is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s permanent collection. Local artist’s works are more in demand now, says Ruiz- Healy, “I’ve seen a shift in the last two to three years. Sophisticated collectors are looking to local artists who stand out and are comparable to New York artists. Of course there is still a strong demand for Latin American artists. The local artists that I represent are more conceptually driven and research-based in their work.”

There are buyer trends as well, Ruiz-Healy says, “For the last 20 years there’s been agrowing concentration on photo curation. People are valuing it and respecting photography as an art form.” Fine art prints are gaining momentum in San Antonio as well, “There’s a big interest here and a strong collector base of good prints.”

Her devotion to art continues. Ruiz-Healy is currently a PhD candidate (ABD) at The University of Texas at Austin where she is completing a Doctorate in Latin American Studies, with a concentration in Art History. 

RUIZ-HEALY ART

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