A place carried in pieces

Victoria Ruiz was born in Caracas and moved to Miami as a child. She later studied in London and has worked between London and Rio de Janeiro. Those moves are part of the material she brings to costume and performance. A costume can turn a memory into something a person has to carry. It has a weight, a silhouette and a way of changing how its wearer moves.

A group of costumed figures covered in small flowers
A group of costumed figures covered in small flowers. Work by Victoria Ruiz. Photographer unlisted in the source. Via Creative Boom · Original image.

Two figures, several feelings

In Coexistence of Extreme Emotions, a red costumed figure confronts a larger presence in the colours of the Venezuelan flag. The distance between the figures leaves their relationship unresolved. Ruiz connects the scene to her feelings about Venezuela in her Creative Boom interview. The work gives longing and grief distinct bodies, then makes them occupy the same space.

A red costumed figure faces a yellow and blue form
A red costumed figure faces a yellow and blue form. Work by Victoria Ruiz. Photographer unlisted in the source. Via Creative Boom · Original image.

Making things together

In the work centred on floral garments, individual petals accumulate until the figure changes shape. Repetition also has a social dimension in Ruiz’s practice. A mask-making and photography workshop in Rio, organised with collaborators, gave participants a way to build and wear images themselves. The finished pictures record part of that exchange. The time spent making the pieces together matters just as much to how the work came about.

A woman and child making crafts together at a table
A woman and child making crafts together at a table. Project imagery via Creative Boom. Photographer unlisted in the source. Via Creative Boom · Original image.

Sources and image credits

Written by The Hasel Magazine. Background reporting: Ayla Angelos, Creative Boom, July 07, 2026. Each image links to its source and includes the available credit.