About

Ruth’s Story

Ruth is a glass and mixed media artist who is compelled to explore the world through her overactive and tangled imagination. For her entire life she has been fascinated with sparkly things, beads, and anything made of glass. Her artwork liberally incorporates all breeds of repurposed treasures—from small vintage gems and “found” objects, to larger hammered metals, machine parts, and even vintage ship portholes.

Ruth is best known for her playful stained-glass creations, often described as colorful and whimsical. She also dabbles in mixed media sculpture, collage, and photography. Her work over the years has been an organic evolution, paralleling her own life journey. Each piece of her work, if you look closely enough, contains bits and fragments of herself.

Raised in a family of artists, her childhood home teemed with cabinets of art supplies. Her adult home is the same way. Her greatest creative influences were her bohemian mother, who taught her daughters to sew before they could walk, and her woodworker/sculptor/tinkerer grandfather who, for fun, took his granddaughters to junkyards in search of treasures.

Pieces of Ruth’s artwork live in businesses, homes, houses of worship and galleries locally, nationally, and abroad. She has been in zillions of art shows and exhibits over the years.

-PK-

“You can never have too many glass goddesses! They bring light, color, femininity and whimsy into my home. I love her use of unique materials and inclusion of playful details. The goddesses look amazing grouped together, but also stand out on their own. I love adding new goddesses and stars to my collection, and I delight in witnessing reactions when I give them as gifts. It is said that one should give gifts one would want to receive, and for me, that’s a Ruth Nickens creation!”

-GG-

“I love Ruth’s remarkable, and often edgy, works of art. Her beautiful glass creations put a smile on everyone’s faces!”

-SD-

“I NEED another Ruthi star!”

-GN-

“Her work is always charming and original. I can’t wait to order a custom beauty from her!”

Accomplishments
  • Voices that Inspire, WFSU Public Media, 2023
  • Tomorrow, 1st place, Artport 2021
  • Give Me Moment, Please, Creative Tallahassee, Commissioner’s Pick 2018
  • It Ain’t Over Easy, Yum Exhibit, Honorable Mention 2017
  • Time Out, iPhotofest, 2nd place, 2015
  • Poetic License,  Collaborating artist w/ Grant Peeples (621 Gallery), 2015
  • Spotlight Featured Artist (COCA) August 2015
  • Unique Use of Color Award (The Tallahassee Senior Center for the Arts) 2015
  • Tallahassee Magazine Featured wreath artist 2012
  • Just One More invitational art show 2000 – 2013
  • The Door Project Finalist 2000
  • Mallternative Coordinator (The Purple House) 1997 – Present
  • Deck the Halls Art and Silent Auction Coordinator 2005 – 2014
  • People’s Choice Award (Artopia) 2000
Selected Exhibitions
  • “Eden Altered” LeMoyne 2023
  • “Recycled Beauty” LeMoyne 2022
  • “Photofest” (Artport) 2021
  • Lemoyne Deck the Halls holiday exhibit 2021, 2022
  • “Viewer Discretion Advised” (Artists League/Black Dog) 2016
  • “A Beautiful Idea “ (FSU Museum of Fine Arts Walmsley Gallery) 2015
  • “You’ve Got Mail” (FSU Museum of Fine Arts Walmsley Gallery) 2015
  • “Encore! Of Vision and Variety” (22nd floor Gallery, Florida Capital) 2015
  • “iPhotofest” (COCA on-line) 2015, 2022
  • “3 Guilds “ (LeMoyne) 2014
  • “Town Show “ (City Hall)) 2007 – 2018
  • ” Kindred Spirits: A Civil Union of Fiber and Glass” (COCA/City Hall) 2007
  • “Creative Tallahassee” (City Hall)
    FSU Museum of Fine Art Glass Show
  • “As I See It” (Florida Capital) 2014
Memberships and Affiliations
  • COCA Grants Selection Committee, 2022
  • Commission for the Status of Women and Girls – Commissioner 2014 to 2016
  • COCA Arts in Public Places – Selection committee 2013
  • COCA – Member
  • Artists League – Member
  • Southern Alliance of Glass Artists – Member
  • TMH Animal Therapy Volunteer 2008 – present
  • Lee’s Place, Oasis, The Alzheimer’s Project, Artopia, TSCF, Literacy Volunteers of Leon County – Art Benefactor 1998 to present
  • The Purple House Concert Series – Host 2014 to present
  • TALL graduate (Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders) 2019

View My Whimsical Creations!