Clio Art Fair Spotlight: A review by Ruth Basagoitia

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Artist Ruth Basagoitia with her artworks

"My artistic practice begins with an internal impulse to explore psychological tensions and processes of self-discovery through portraiture, the human figure, still life, and the urban landscape. I am interested in the space between things that appear to contradict one another, but are in fact different points along the same spectrum: beauty and decay, prudery and seduction, intimacy and alienation.

As an artist of the Salvadoran diaspora, I am particularly interested in identity as something unstable and constantly negotiated. I belong to two radically different worlds, and their collision within me has become an ongoing source of questions. My paintings are, in part, an attempt to understand what emerges from that collision.

My ongoing series The Unveiling of Flesh and Soul explores the human body as a place where identity, desire, vulnerability, and expectation converge. Through portraits and nudes, I seek to move beyond the masks inherited from tradition and external expectations. The skin becomes a territory of expression and sensuality, but also one of exposure. My portraiture and nudes are an aesthetic protest against my prude upbringing, under the banner: “Raised to be prude, born to be proud.”

This same fascination with contradiction extends beyond the body and into the places we inhabit. My newer series, called New York, I Love You, turns this investigation toward the city I now call home. I am fascinated by New York's extraordinary cultural richness and its decay, by the way beauty and ugliness coexist so intensely that one can become indistinguishable from the other. Through an aesthetic lens, I transform these contradictions, excesses, and everyday deteriorations into subjects of fascination."

-Ruth Basagoitia

Ruth Basagoitia exhibited her work in the past at the 24th edition of Clio Art Fair, held from September 17-20, 2026. Here is a short interview with the artist and a review of her experience at the fair.

Ruth, can you please describe your art in four words?

Provocative, Pop, Visually Dramatic, Sensual.

What inspires your art?

My inspiration includes, but is not limited to, psychological exploration of both my own mind and the minds of others; moral conundrums; past experiences; and life itself and its contradictions. Visually, I am influenced by Pop Art, particularly Andy Warhol’s approach to color and contrast; the Surrealism of Salvador Dalí; and the sensuality and humor of illustrators like Frida Castelli and Francesco Tortorella.

How would you describe your experience at Clio Art Fair?

Participating in Clio Art Fair was an incredibly enriching experience and an important milestone in my artistic journey. As my first serious art fair, I was impressed by how thoughtfully organized and welcoming the entire experience was.

From the months leading up to the fair, the communication with the Clio team was fluid, professional, and incredibly responsive. They were always knowledgeable and happy to answer my questions, which made the preparation process feel much less daunting. During installation, the staff and Alessandro were equally helpful, flexible, and kind, and I truly felt that they were invested in helping each artist have the best possible experience.

The fair also gave me the opportunity to meet an inspiring group of independent artists, make meaningful connections, and discover potential future collaborations. Most importantly, I had the chance to share my work directly with an engaged audience, have conversations about my art, and see people connect with it. Selling two of my miniature paintings and a number of prints was incredibly rewarding, but the personal interactions were just as meaningful.