Ruth Allen Harden

Bio

Ruth Allen Harden received a BFA in painting and sculpture from Delta State University and has exhibited work across the United States since 1970. A native of the Mississippi Delta, a region as unique for its artistic heritage as its social turmoil, Ruth learned to utilize artwork as a visual representation of her voice.  She has long sought to increase access to the arts through initiatives as diverse as teaching federal prison inmates at Parchman Penitentiary and serving as Chief Executive Officer for the Delta Arts Alliance, a nonprofit focused on creating multi-purpose arts and humanities opportunities in a high-poverty region. She was Museum Studies Coordinator at Delta State University and a founding member and exhibiting artist at FRANK Gallery in Chapel Hill, NC. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans, LA and the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill, NC.

Presently Ruth and her husband live on a small sustainable farm protecting the land and wildlife with help by state and federal conservation programs. In this environment, she is inspired to incorporate found materials and other natural additions to media such as encaustics from beekeeping. “Expression through my art has encouraged me to assist others in finding their voice. This has been not only fulfilling but has also acted as an inspiration for my artwork.”