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Seth Ruggles Hiler's first inspiration was the nature of northern New Jersey farmland. While at Syracuse University, Hiler’s creative interests bloomed into portraying the spirit of humans and the communities they create. He went on to study figurative oil painting at the New York Academy of Art. He continues to paint the beauty of nature and the nature of humanity. Hiler is a drawing and painting professor for the Bard Early College Network and maintains a studio in Atlantic Highlands, NJ.
“I paint moments of experience. Through layering of imagery, I encourage viewers of my art to unearth their own emotional takes, metaphors and narratives. As I move into more expressive abstraction in my painting, opportunities for dimensional layering of my experiences grow. This creative process of stacking moments became essential during the pandemic. At times, the most vivid way to connect to the outside world was through memory. We unfolded and rearranged moments from our past, and then we connected them to our surreal present. When we step out into nature we are given the freedom to connect with a force that does not speak the language of scarcity. My paintings attempt to reflect the abundance of the fields and skies which put the world into perspective for me.”
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EDUCATION
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2005 - MFA
New York Academy of Art
2002 - BFA
Syracuse University
SOLO & Two Person
ART EXHIBITIONS
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2023
“Seth Ruggles Hiler: The Nature of Threes,” Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
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2021
”Being, Human: Portraits by Seth Ruggles Hiler & Steve Mantinaos,” curated by Patrick Neal, The Local NYC, Long Island City, NY
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2019
“The Landscapes of Seth Ruggles Hiler,” The United Nations Global Compact Headquarters, NY, NY
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2019
”un-Paralled: The Journeys of Bob Hill and Seth Ruggles Hiler,” Art Institute at Maplebrook, Amenia, NY
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2017
“Painting America,” Throne, Brooklyn, NY
2015
“Transitions,” ANNEX Arts Space, Williamsburg, NY
2014
“The Paintings of Seth Ruggles Hiler,” Tides Art Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
“Portraits on Pine Street,” Gallery 73 See, Montclair, NJ
2013
“Studio Visits,” DUO Multicultural Arts Center, New York, NY
“East of Orange,” Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ
2012
“Faces of SAGE,” The SAGE Center, New York, NY (ongoing installation)
“Back to the Light,” Right Angle Uptown, Hoboken, NJ
“Solos,” Gallery 33, Jersey City, NJ
2011
“CROPPED,” Guerilla Galleries (GuGa) at Gallery One, Newark, NJ
2010
“NJ Emerging Artists Series: Seth Ruggles Hiler - Portraits,” The Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
“Seth Ruggles Hiler – Paintings,” The Collonade Gallery, Newark, NJ
2009
“Twenty Something,” BOI’s of New Hope Gallery, New Hope, PA
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2024
“Land and Sea,” Oyster Point Gallery, Red Bank, NJ
“Bridging Chasms," Riverfront Art Gallery, Yonkers, NY
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2023
“Positive Masculinity,” Maison Depoivre Gallery, Prince Edward County, Ontario
“New Jersey Highlands Coalition Exhibition,” The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
“Thank You for Hearing Me,” Le Cote Lapin Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Love is the Only Norm,” Riverfront Art Gallery, Yonkers, NY
“The Sounds and Colors of the Rainbow,” Artfront Galleries, Newark, New Jersey
“Beyond the Rainbow,” Hudson Valley MOCA, Peekskill, NY
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2022
“The Woods for the Trees,” Hawk and Hive Gallery, Andes, NY
“Disruption: Art of Change,” Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
2021
”Being, Human: Portraits by Seth Ruggles Hiler & Steve Mantinaos,” curated by Patrick Neal, The Local NYC, Long Island City
“R(love)ution,”Artfront Galleries, Newark, NJ
2020
”Endangered, Can Art Save Them,” Art Impact International, online exhibition
2019
”un-Paralled: The Journeys of Bob Hill and Seth Ruggles Hiler,” Art Institute at Maplebrook, Amenia, NY
“OUT/SIDE,” Curated by Ricardo Osmondo Francis, West Orang Public Library, West Orange, NJ
“Ribbon Cutting,” Curated by Rafael Cuello, Newark Pride Center, Newark, NJ
2018
“Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series,” The White Space Chelsea, NY, NY
“Which Hunt,” Friday Studio Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Out Loud,” Art Front Galleries, Newark, NJ
2017
“Self Portraits, Faculty and Staff Exhibition,”Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY
“The Transcendence of Us,” Brooklyn Fire Proof’s ‘Gallery 104,’ Brooklyn, NY
“Art at the Abbey,” The Great Hall Gallery, Brooklyn, NY - group show, curated by Seth Ruggles Hiler
"EVERYBOOTY," Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY
2016
“New Queer Art 2016,” DMAC Gallery, New York, NY
“Season of Creativity,” Palette Art Studio, Woodbridge, CT
“Artists Emerged: NJ Emerging Artists Series New Works,” Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
“Personality Test, Contemporary Portraiture,” Mikhail Zakin Gallery, Demarest, NJ
"EVERYBOOTY," Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY
2015
“X Contemporary Exhibition,” Art Basel, Miami, FL
“KUNSTKAMMER,” Parenthesis Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
"EVERYBOOTY," Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY
"EVERYBODY IN LOVE" Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Brooklyn, NY
“Selected Junior Scholarship Members Salmagundi Club,” Denise Bibro Fine Arts, NY, NY
2014
“Strangers,” Curated by Parenthesis Art Space, The Wix Lounge, NY, NY
“Unity of the Spheres,” CCM Visual Arts Gallery, Randolph, NJ
2013
“25th Anniversary Gallery Night,” North Jersey Community Research Initiative, NJ
“NY Emerging Artists Exhibition: The Work of Seth Ruggles Hiler & Dawn DiCicco,” curated by The Monmouth Museum, Colonial American Bank, Shrewsbury, NJ
TEACHING, LECTURES, ENGAGEMENTS & RESIDENCIES
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2011 - present Assistant Professor, Bard High School Early Colleges
2020 Louise T. Archer Artist-in-Residence, Memphis, TN
2019 Guest Speaker, “On Art & Nature,” United Nations Global Compact, NY, NY
2019 Presenter, “Trans-cen-der Art Group Artist Series,” Temporary Storage Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2017 - 2018 Adjunct Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, NY
2017 - present Artist in Residence, Bushwick Abbey, Brooklyn, NY
2017 Speaker, “Trans-cen-der Art Group Artist Series,” Temporary Storage Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2016 Panelist, “NJ Artists Emerged Discussion,” The Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
2013 Lecturer, “Portraiture: Influence and Effect,” Bard High School Early College Newark, NJ
2012 Painting Demonstrator, “The Draw-a-thon,” The Salmagundi Club, NY, NY
2011 Panelist, “NJ Artists Emerged Discussion,” The Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
2011 Honored Jurist, “Member’s Exhibit” Art Alliance of Monmouth County, Red Bank, NJ
2010 Lecturer, “NJ Emerging Artists Series: Seth Ruggles Hiler - Portraits,” The Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
2010 & 2012 Speaker/Residency, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2009 Honored Jurist, “Fresh Perspectives” Exhibition, Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey
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