CHUCK RAMIREZ: CHRISTMAS TREES

10.29.26—1.10.27

Chuck Ramirez, Christmas Trees (detail), 2005, mixed media, Linda Pace Foundation Collection, Ruby City, San Antonio, Texas. Photo: Jorge Villarreal

On Thursday, October 29, Ruby City will present Chuck Ramirez’s vibrant Christmas Trees in Studio. Commissioned by Linda Pace in 2005, these exuberant sculptures transform holiday ornaments, boas, beads, artificial flowers, and other everyday materials into joyful works that blur the line between decoration and fine art. 

A largely self-taught conceptual artist born and raised in San Antonio, Ramirez was known for finding beauty, humor, and emotional resonance in ordinary objects. Writer, curator, and longtime friend Anjali Gupta describes his gift for “monumentalizing the disposable,” using familiar materials to prompt new ways of seeing. For Gupta, the trees are distinguished by the sentimentality and longing they evoke, reflecting Ramirez’s deep interest in memory, celebration, and the meaning carried by everyday things. 

Chuck Ramirez, Christmas Trees, 2005, mixed media, Linda Pace Foundation Collection, Ruby City. Photo: Jorge Villareal

Created with Pace’s directive that “More is More!,” the trees invite visitors of all ages to experience the holiday season through Ramirez’s singular vision. Free and open to the public, the installation will be accompanied by special holiday programming designed to bring the community together around art, celebration, and the spirit of the season. 

Rooted in Ruby City’s mission to make contemporary art accessible to all, the Fall 2026 exhibition season reflects Linda Pace’s belief in art’s capacity to inspire curiosity, connection, and dialogue. 

This exhibition is free and open to the public.

ENGLISH GALLERY GUIDE (Coming soon)

SPANISH GALLERY GUIDE (Proximamente)