THE ARTIST

Bay Area artist, Ruthie K. Yamada, has been honing her skills in contemporary surrealism and realism since 2017. She works primarily in oils and watercolor out of her studio in downtown San Jose. Her work is inspired by pop culture, her lineage from the Hawaiian Islands and Japan and the never ending wonder & beauty from nature. 


Ruthie spent her early childhood in Honolulu, Hawaii before moving to Northern California. She has had lengthy careers in both fashion design and massage therapy before becoming a full time artist.


Ruthie shows her work regularly in group exhibits around the Bay Area. A notable highlight was ’The de Young Open’ at the de Young Museum, San Francisco in 2020. Wanting to contribute to her art community, Ruthie joined FUSE Presents as a board member in 2019. They provide gallery exhibits and opportunities for fellow emerging artists in the South Bay.


When Ruthie is not painting you will probably find her tending her vegetable garden or with her husband and rescue dog, Bowie, somewhere outside enjoying nature. 


Bowie at Lighthouse Beach in Santa Cruz, CA

Our vegetable garden at the Guadalupe Community Garden