Ep.212- Ruby Neri / Reminisce

Ruby Neri, also known by her graffiti name Reminisce, emerged as a prominent figure during the golden era of San Francisco’s graffiti scene in the 1990s. She immersed herself in the Bay Area’s graffiti culture, painting, shoplifting and hanging alongside figures such as KR, AMAZE, Barry McGee (TWIST), Margaret Kilgallen (RIP) & Alicia McCarthy; all of whom helped define the street graffiti & art scene of the time. 

Rather than a classic throw-up, her graffiti focused on riderless horses that appeared across the Mission District. Her horses became iconic and are considered a classic amongst the Bay Area scene.

By the mid-1990s, Neri shifted from graffiti to studio practice, pursuing an MFA at UCLA and exploring new media; particularly ceramics. Over time, she grew tired of the adjacent phenomena that come with the culture of graffiti. She moved away from graffiti to sculptural vessels and figurative ceramic forms. Her ceramic works, often marked by vibrant sprayed glazes and stylized female figures, maintained a connection to her past as Reminisce. In recent years, Neri has returned to painting, bringing her career full circle. Today, Neri’s work bridges the raw immediacy of graffiti with the refinement of fine art. She is a key figure in the evolution of Bay Area art from underground to institutional recognition.