I'm Taylor Ruby Bell, a visual storyteller living with my family in Portland, OR.
Prior to taking up residence in Portland, I worked as an art dealer of Post War prints and works on paper and was the Director of one of the most prestigious galleries in New York. During this time, I had the unique opportunity to closely inspect thousands of fine prints and drawings by artists like Josef Albers, Ellsworth Kelly, and Cy Twombly, to name just a few. I took immense pleasure in introducing my clients to these special works, and turning them into life long collectors.
Years later, after the birth of my daughter, I found a deep connection in working with clay. I was surprised and delighted to discover that I was an artist myself. All those years of closely looking at fine art had seeped into my subconscious, and I found my practice fully informed by my favorite Modern and Post-War artists. I was making work that felt connected not just to the present, but to art history and my personal heritage as well.
As my artistic journey progressed, my interests expanded into collecting unusual antique / vintage furniture, art, and design–first for myself, then for others. The act of designing a personal space with art and objects from disparate eras, cultures, and design styles felt directly linked to how I went about my artistic practice in clay. I've come to recognize that my artistic medium is visual storytelling, where every vignette is unique.