Artist Bio & Statement

M Rudder (they/them) is a queer and trans Japanese-American artist creating work that explores the intersections of the natural world, gender identity, the sacred, and belonging. They believe that we have the opportunity to choose how we will engage in each moment that we are given, how we will love what is in front of us, and how we will dream the future ahead while taking action in the present to save what we love. M currently lives and works in the hilltowns of western Massachusetts, balancing their studio life with their work in facilitation and spiritual accompaniment within the LGBTQIA+ community.

They are here to create images, spaces, writings, and conversations that call out to us to remember that we belong. To the earth. And to each other.

They are here to create stickers, coloring book pages, children’s books illustrations, prints, blog entries, murals, and installations. They are here to expand into creating patches, pins, postcards, posters, clothing, novellas, and murals. They are here to create spaces and conversations to connect and reflect virtually, in person, around the fire, and in the natural world. They are here to expand these opportunities to galleries, shelters, jails, and to a wide range of public and private spaces. They are here to bring these images, spaces, and conversations to as many individuals as possible to counteract the systems of oppression in our times that seek to sever our knowing that we belong. To the earth. And to each other.

They began their creative life drawing hippos and comics, and then created as a muralist and in contributing to theatrical set designs, having painted over a dozen public murals, and having contributed to over 30 theatrical performances. They moved from large-scale public work to textile-based installation and performance work during their time in Baltimore, MD where they studied, worked, and lived for nine years. Here they also worked within the fine art conservation field restoring historic gilded frames, and as a studio assistant to a public sculpture and installation artist and two fibers and textiles artists, all of whom have exhibited internationally. They then moved into their sketchbook when they packed up their life and headed to Los Angeles for three years, spending their free time drawing and hiking in the natural beauty of southern and central CA. These days their work ranges between representational and abstraction and takes the form of poetry, children’s books, drawings and paintings, objects, and installations.

When they are not in their studio, they can be found meditating, power-lifting, hiking with their dog, road cycling, reading about spiritual traditions and religions across the world or spending time with their partner and chosen kids. Their work is held in private collections across the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Exhibitions & Publications

Group Exhibit: Substratal, Northampton Center for the Arts, January 5th – 27th, 2024
Group Exhibit: We’ll Show U, Greenfield Gallery, August 25th – October 6th, 2023
Sacred Incantations: Rituals of Trans Wisdom for Every Season, Enfleshed
Maker of the Month, Mxed Greens, Northampton, MA, October 2022
Solo Exhibit, Hearty Eats, Shelburne MA, September 2022 – January 2023
Publication: Enfleshed (addendum), Held, January 2022
Publication: Queer Quarterly: The Spirit Issue, October 2021
Group Exhibit: 6th Annual Juried Art Show “Sky Bowl”, Gallery A3, Amherst MA, August 1st – 31st, 2019
Group Exhibit: Inclusion in a collection of art for the musicians’ green room at the Green River Music Festival, June 2019
Solo Exhibit: Greenfield Gallery, Greenfield MA, May 14th – June 20th, 2019

Awards & Honors

Assets 4 Artists, Artist U Mentorship Cohort – Western Massachusetts, 2022 – 2023
CitiArts Grant, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts – Baltimore, MD 2005
Community Fellowship, Open Society Institute – Baltimore, MD 2003