Today we’d like to introduce you to Meliza Ruby A..
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Meliza Ruby, the artist behind By Melrub, a Dominican-American creative whose work blends art, storytelling, and identity. Through Ella, my signature figure always facing back.
I created a visual diary that reflects memory, womanhood, resilience, nostalgia, and culture. What began in watercolor and sketchbook form grew into Dear Diary monologues in Spanglish, where I express emotion through both words and image. Bringing Ella into sculpture became a powerful evolution of my work, transforming a personal symbol into a physical presence.
Today, my art continues to connect watercolor, sculpture, and storytelling into one living world that honors my journey, my roots, and the stories we carry within.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, it has taken resilience, faith, and consistency. One of the biggest challenges has been building an artistic voice that feels true to me while also growing it into something tangible and sustainable.
As a Dominican-American artist, navigating identity, migration, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and creativity all at once has come with both emotional and practical challenges.
There were moments of doubt, limited resources, and the challenge of turning deeply personal work, like Ella, my watercolors,
Dear Diary monologues, and now sculpture, into something others could understand and value. But those obstacles also shaped my path. They taught me to trust my voice, honor my story, and keep creating with purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a multidisciplinary artist and creative behind By Melrub, known for blending visual art, storytelling, watercolor, sculpture, and cultural identity into deeply personal work.
I specialize in creating emotionally driven pieces that explore womanhood, memory, migration, nostalgia, and resilience through my signature figure, Ella, who always faces back as a symbol of reflection and quiet strength.
My work extends beyond painting into Dear Diary Spanglish monologues and the evolving world of Ella sculpture, where art becomes both visual and narrative.
What I am most proud of is building a body of work that feels intimate yet universal rooted in my Dominican-American experience while still resonating with many others. What sets me apart is that my art is not only seen, but felt; it lives between image, emotion, language, and identity.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
What has worked best for me is building genuine relationships through consistency, community, and showing up as myself. In the creative world, mentors do not always appear in formal ways, sometimes they are people whose work inspires you, who offer honest guidance, or who open a door through conversation and connection. I have found that networking works best when it comes from authenticity, not pressure.
Sharing your work, supporting others, attending community events, and staying open to collaboration can lead to meaningful relationships over time. My advice is to lead with sincerity, respect people’s time, and keep creating while you build connections. Often, the right mentors and opportunities come when others can clearly see your voice, your commitment, and your purpose.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymelrub
