Steve Ruiz, Neighbor

I'm an artist and writer who grew up in Chicago's western suburbs. I graduated in 2009 from Northern Illinois University, and now work as a gallery assistant in Glen Ellyn, write art journalism in Chicago, and make paintings at my home studio in Wheaton. I'm currently earning a paralegal certification at College of DuPage while preparing for graduate school in art and art journalism. I'm a big fan of a good story, a long bike ride, and a great beer!

I'm notorious among friends for being bad with clothes, and I have a dozen near-identical versions of the same outfit. If you meet me on consecutive days, don't be alarmed at the consistent wardrobe! I also have a huge appetite for art, and in addition to writing for Patch, I maintain the Chicago Art Review blog, which covers and lists events and gallery openings in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. If you're an artist and have something you want to show me, I'll be more than happy to check it out!