Sterling Ruby (born in Bitburg, Germany 1972; lives in Los Angeles) 2 drops, 2011, fabric and fiberfill, 492.8 x 50.8 x 25.4 cm Provenance: Galerie Sprüth Magers, Berlin Private Collection, Germany Exhibited: I AM NOT FREE BECAUSE I CAN BE EXPLODED ANYTIME, Sprüth Magers, Berlin, Germany, 8 April – 28 May 2011 His work is as multifacetted as it is disturbing. Sterling Ruby performs contemporary Arte Povera Americana in a wide variety of media, making him one of the most versatile, unpredictable and influential artists working today. Ruby’s work continually tests the boundaries of artistic media, not least pushing thresholds by launching his own fashion collection in 2019 - after years of collaboration with designer Raf Simons. 2 DROPS is a work from the Soft Works series. The textile work shows the artist’s familiarity with the medium of fabric and translates this experience into his artistic work. At the same time, his work method remains similar to his work as a designer. For his work in fashion, each piece begins with a drawing, which is then translated into a pattern. This approach makes it possible for the artist to work serially. “My ‘soft’ sculptures are easy to model and they can take very different shapes. They can also be hung or installed in different ways. I often adapt them to the architecture and size of the space.” Kunstforum International, issue 239, April-Mai 2016, Sterling Ruby. Fixierte Gesten zwischen Primitivismus und High-End – Ein Gespräch von Angela Stief, p. 163