Ricardo Ruiz was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas and has been painting professionally there since 1986.
His work examines the mysteries of life, love and the commonality of the life experience. His love for Renaissance and Northern Renaissance painting is evident in his love for detail and the highly finished surfaces of his work. He uses imagery culled from religion, folklore and the Mexican-American cultural experience in South Texas, a culture to which he is a lifelong member. Images will include devils, angels, El Cucuy, martyr frogs, family members and well-dressed grackles in fez hats.

His work is in numerous museum and private collections, including the collection of Richard "Cheech" Marin, who has described Ricardo's work as "everything Chicano art should be: well painted, familiar and mysterious."