Ruby City is stirring the local art scene once again with its latest exhibition, featuring the artworks of Arlington-based artist Celia Álvarez Muñoz. As reported by the San Antonio Report, her show "Los Brillantes," opening this Saturday, will present a series of dynamic portraits collaged from images of prominent San Antonio artists. With a poetic nod, Álvarez Muñoz compares the artists to stars within the city's cultural nebula. "As I see it, I’m featuring them as stars of their city," she said during a walkthrough of the exhibition.

Having carved a niche for herself within the Texan art landscape, the 87-year-old artist uses photography to weave compelling narratives about her subjects. In a display of ingenuity, she incorporates film reel frames into the portraits, marking the fluidity and ongoing saga of these artists' lives. Chuck Ramirez, according to San Antonio Report, is captured in his natural effervescence while Ethel Shipton's multifaceted persona is assembled across multiple frames. Muñoz's work exhibits, aside from the glamour, a deep-seated respect for the community, highlighting the dedication behind each artist's journey.

In parallel, Ruby City's second marquee exhibition since its inception, "Tangible/Nothing," curated by Elyse A. Gonzales, adopts a contemplative approach toward everyday materials and the concepts of absence and voids. The display is a poignant reflection on mortality, memory, and the legacy of Ruby City's founder, Linda Pace. Gonzales, who was named director of Ruby City just before the pandemic shut its doors, identified these themes while plumbing the depths of the Linda Pace Foundation's collection during that hiatus. Opening back in September last year, the exhibition casts a spotlight on both local and international talent, revealing unexpected connections amid its frame.

"We were closed for about 16 months," Gonzales told the SA Current. "As frustrating as that was for all of us, it was a great moment to be able to spend time getting to know the collection." She finds that the works of art in "Tangible/Nothing" interweave with themes of gender and race, among others, which enrich the experience for visitors. SA Current highlighted how San Antonio luminaries Chuck Ramirez and Katie Pell's works resonate with the exhibition title, transforming mundane objects into profound statements.

Whether you're drawn by the portrait narratives of Celia Álvarez Muñoz's "Los Brillantes" or stirred by the thematic resonance of "Tangible/Nothing," Ruby City promises to deliver a double punch of artistic finesse that's as much about introspection as it is about community celebration. Both exhibitions underscore Ruby City's growing influence in the national art conversation, marrying local legacies with broad, universal themes.