Rujuta Rao: Artist Talk

Join interdisciplinary artist Rujuta Rao for an artist talk as she guides audiences through a selection of books and garments, activating each work through live demonstration and discussion. 

Gathered around a shared table, Rao will speak about her broader practice, which spans sculpture, installation, book art, beverage, and social practice, alongside a parallel practice of conceptual and functional garments under the imprint RUGA. Through material investigation, she explores themes of migration, place, family history, and hospitality.

This is a public benefit program of the Individual Artist Fellowship, sponsored by the Jersey City Office of Cultural Affairs and the Jersey City Arts Council, with generous support from Monira Foundation.

About the artist, Rujuta Rao:

Rao received her MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Parsons School of Design, New York, and her BFA in Sculpture from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She is a certified Japanese Sake Adviser through the Sake Service Institute International, Tokyo, and a sake sommelier candidate. Rao has participated in residencies and fellowships including the Bemis Center (Omaha, NE); SOMA Summer (MX); Center for Book Arts (NY); The Here & There Co. (NY), CCA Islands Travel Fellowship (Japan); and the Civita Institute Fellowship (Italy). Rao’s work has been exhibited at the State of Fashion Biennale 2024 (NL), The Kitchen (NY), the New York Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1 (NY), Printed Matter / St. Marks (NY), New York Live Arts (NY), Tufts University Art Galleries (MA), and Experimenter Gallery (IN). In 2026, Rao began the Dieu Donné Dual Workspace Residency and will participate in the Artists Alliance Inc. LES Studio Program in New York