Working in many different mediums, Riivo Kruuk’s work explores Estonian folklore and traditional clothing fused with contemporary motifs and pop culture. Using graffiti to represent the colorful grit of where he grew up, Riivo paints his figures decorated in embroidery-esque and graffiti tag-like adornments.
Riivo Kruuk was born in 1998 and grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts with Focus in Painting in 2020. Since graduating he continuously gathers a list of exhibitions and murals around the U.S. and on an international stage .
Currently living and working in Charleston, SC, USA.
Represented by White Gallery in Mt. Pleasant, SC.
CV
EDUCATION
2020 Bachelors in Fine Arts in Painting, Florida Atlantic University, FL, USA
RESIDENCIES
2023 Chateau Orquevaux Artist & Writers Residency, Orquevaux, France
2021-2022 Studio residency at Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston, SC
SOLO SHOWS
2024 Tradition, White Gallery, Mt. Pleasant SC
2023 Temporary Exhibition ‘Virvatuluke’ at the Estonian House, Manhattan, NYC
2022 KALEVIPOEG, Julia Deckman Studio, Charleston SC, USA
‘Il Calcio È Guerra’ , Redux Contemporary Art Center, Charleston, SC
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2024 Galerie Diderot, Chateau Orquevaux, France
2023 REDUX Contemporary Art Center Annual Art Auction, Charleston, SC
Senior Exhibition, Florida Atlantic University
2022 ‘To Freedom’ University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin, USA
GAP Gallery, 'Keep Your HedHi’, Charleston, SC
Redux Studio Artist Group Show, Charleston, SC
GAP Gallery “One Year Celebration” Group Show Charleston SC
2021 ‘Riivo Kruuk’, Highfalutin Gallery, Charleston SC, USA
GAP Gallery Volume 2, Charleston SC
Cultural Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters, 30th Re-independence Festival, Manhattan NYC
Spark Exhibition Invitational, Public Works Art Center, Summerville, SC, USA
2020 Senior Art Show, Florida Atlantic University, Digital Showing.
2019 Blazers Art Show, Florida Atlantic University
Wynwood Art Walk, Miami, FL
RAW Art Show, Ft. Lauderdale
MURAL FESTIVALS:
2023 SISAF Sibiu International Street Art Festival, Romania
COLLECTIONS:
2023 Permanent Collection of Chateau d'Orquevaux International Artists & Writers Collection
2022 Collection of the Furlong Gallery at University of Wisconsin- Stout
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2023 Chateau Oquevaux Emerging Artist Grant
The Denis Diderot Grant
2022 Estonian Cultural Foundation Young Artist of the Year Grant and Award
PRESS:
2024
Interview with French Estonian House- Paris
https://www.france-estonie.org/entretien-avec-le-peintre-riivo-kruuk/
2023
Õhtuleht Daily Paper- Artist Interview
Charleston City Paper - ‘Emerging Artists to watch for in 2023’
https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/01/11/emerging-artists-to-watch-for-in-2023/
2022
WEAU 13 News - Featured in newscast about show at the University of Wisconsin-Stout
https://www.weau.com/2022/11/08/furlong-gallery-welcomes-new-art-series/
University of Wisconsin-Stout ‘To Freedom’ Exhibition Press Release
https://www.uwstout.edu/about-us/news-center/freedom-will-celebrate-art-and-music-estonia-poland-and-ukraine
Eesti Vaba Sõna Intervju (Estonian Free Press Interview)
https://www.vabaeestisona.com/et/2022-kultuuristipendiumi-voitja-on-kunstnik-riivo-kruuk/
West Of Free Press, Full spread interview
2021 Cultural Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters
Two murals posted, CharlestonToday Paper
https://chstoday.6amcity.com/street-art-and-murals-charleston-sc/
2020 I Like Your Work Podcast Online Exhibition, ‘Congruence’
2019 Voyage MIA, interview