About
Dennis Ruggiero is an artist based in the Sacramento area. Born in 1952 in Sacramento, he graduated from Lodi High School in 1970. In February 1971, he joined the U.S. Army and completed his service with an honorable discharge in 1974. Dennis is also a proud father of three children.​
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Artwork History
Dennis began creating black-and-white geometric 2D drawings in 1976, using various sizes of Rapidograph pens on paper. His tools included a ruler, T-square, compass, French curves, geometric stencils, triangles, and a custom-made drawing table equipped with a track drafter. In 1990, he transitioned to creating five-color drawings and eventually embraced digital design, utilizing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software. This shift enabled him to transform his earlier 2D artwork into intricate 3D designs, culminating in the 3D geometric reliefs available for sale today.
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Dennis first publicly exhibited his work at The Stockton National 82 art show at the Stockton Museum in 1982, showcasing a piece titled Technology Rising. His second public showing was at the 24th Lodi Art Annual Show in 1984, where he exhibited serigraphs of Technology Rising, Flight of the Bombardier, and De Vries Spiral Staircase.
Inspiration
Dennis draws much of his artistic inspiration from a diverse range of historical and modern works. The intricate architectural detail of De Vries' Spiral Staircase, a 17th-century drawing, has sparked creative ideas, although it has yet to be translated into a geometric relief. Johan-Barthold Jongkind’s Johan’s Crane watercolor has inspired Dennis with its delicate balance of structure and artistic fluidity. He also finds intrigue in the Motorized Bicycle and Chain Gear paintings by an unknown artist, which embody the mechanical and geometric elements often present in his own designs. Additionally, the abstract forms and vibrant compositions of Wassily Kandinsky’s paintings have greatly influenced Dennis’s approach to integrating color and geometry into his work. Together, these inspirations have shaped his artistic vision and continue to influence his evolving creations.
The Art Behind the Artwork: Methods & Materials
Starting in 2018, Dennis has focused solely on creating 3D geometric reliefs for wall art. The process entails first designing the piece in TurboCAD software, which is later imported into a Computer-Aided Machining (CAM) software in order to create proper Tool Paths used by CNC Machines to drill and cut into materials, which today consist of specialized PVC plastic.
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Currently there are 3 types of geometric reliefs which each have a unique design. The first design is 'Black on Whites', which consist of white background with black machined parts. The second is 'White on Black', which is a black background with white machined parts. Lastly, there is 'White on White' which provides an intriguing take on 3D optics.
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The method for making the entire piece consist of severable steps once the design in finished and the CNC Tool Paths are defined. Multiple CNC runs are needed in order to fine tune the cuts and part sizes in order ensure proper fit. These pieces can take any where from 4-8 hours each to make and assemble.