Meet The Donor: Ricardo Roig

This month, we interviewed professional Fine Artist Ricardo Roig. Roig is a Westfield-native who began developing his own unique form of hand-cut screen printing in 2006. Now, he's a full-time artist who owns galleries and studios in Westfield and Hoboken, with past and current residencies at the W Hotel in Hoboken, Kean University, and the Rialto. Read the interview to learn about Roig's intertwined history with Westfield, his stories of creativity's transformative power, and the collaborative partnership between his artistry and the Rialto.

Can you share a little about who you are and what you do?

I'm a full-time artist specializing in original hand-cut screenprinting. I co-own galleries in Westfield and Hoboken, as well as a studio in Westfield, with my wife Michelle.   

My connection to Westfield is strong. I grew up here, and that experience definitely shaped my career and influenced so much of who I am and what I do today. I learned about art in kindergarten at Washington School and thought, "You can actually do that all day? Well, sign me up." There was so much support in the school system. To name a few examples, Ms. Conway and Mrs. Jarvis taught me important creative skills and helped me feel that I belonged and was accepted. Mrs. Goller-Roberts, my English teacher in my senior year, let me make a drawing instead of writing a book report.

Westfield remained a big part of my life as an adult. After I graduated from Kean University, I was hired as an art teacher at McKinley and Franklin Elementary Schools. Now, I work full-time as an artist and live in Scotch Plains with my wife (a Spanish teacher in Westfield and another WHS Grad) and two wonderful boys. 

How did your career in screenprinting unfold?

I learned about screen printing during my time at Kean University. After years of oil painting, I was encouraged to try a new medium outside my usual comfort zone, and that's when I learned about screen printing. I fell in love instantly. For some time, I worked as a waiter in Hoboken and made art in my apartment studio, selling it on the street or at pop-ups I would run when I could. 

After about five years, my wife and I purchased our own art gallery space in Hoboken. We both commuted every day to Westfield to teach—me art, and her, Spanish. Our gallery in Hoboken grew quickly, and in 2017, the W Hoboken asked us to open an art gallery in their hotel. I decided to leave teaching and follow my dream of becoming a full-time artist. 

With continued hard work, it just kept snowballing. We ran multiple galleries and exhibited at art fairs in the Hamptons, Jersey City, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. I made connections with people who thought my style would be great for murals, and started creating murals for places like the W Hoboken, Hilton Hotels, the City of Hoboken, Saks 5th Avenue, the Town of Westfield, Amazon, Rumble Gyms, and many more.

Eventually, we opened our first gallery in Westfield and later opened a third space that offered a printmaking experience for people to come together and create following the pandemic. In the last few years, I've been so lucky to have worked with the Ritz-Carlton, been selected as the artist-in-residence at Kean University, spoken about the intersection of art and mental health at Art Basel hosted by the JED Foundation, been a guest speaker for Square’s Soho offices, and so much more. Right now, I'm celebrating signing with global licensing giant Bridgeman Images, becoming a member of the Copley Society of Artists, being featured as an artist in Christie's new gallery in Montclair, and working on five new murals for Advance Realty Investments in Hoboken. It's been a whirlwind career that certainly did not happen overnight, but I wake up to the dream every day.

Can you explain printmaking in your own words?

Sometimes describing what my form of printmaking isn't does a better job of capturing what it actually is. A big misconception is that it's painting something, photographing it, and printing it out 200 times. That's not what hand-cut screenprinting is for me. It's a long and complex process, but the short version is: I use an X-Acto knife to cut shapes from paper, push ink through those shapes to create multiple layers of color, and layer them to create a modern, colorful, artistic original creation. It's sometimes easier to understand visually, and there's a video of me creating my art on my website that captures the process really well.

How did you start collaborating with the Rialto?

In 2022, we opened our second gallery in  Westfield and began hosting events and other programming that really connected the town and built on its creative community. This transitional phase for the gallery was a big hit, and it caught the Rialto's attention! In 2023, they asked me to come into their space, and it was a no-brainer. I received advice early on in my career: "Never partner with people whose values don't align with yours." I value community and togetherness, and they do too. I was honored to be a part of the space and this dream to create a center for creativity. 

Do you have any favorite memories from the Rialto?

One of the most memorable moments as a kid was seeing Aladdin and how connected Robin Williams was with his character, the genie. The October Spotlight Series with the Eisenberg brothers was also very memorable. I loved hearing about their journey and learning that they had Mrs. Goller-Roberts, who allowed them to make a video instead of a book report, too! 

What are you most excited about for the Rialto Center for Creativity?

I know firsthand the power of making space for creation, community, and connection. From creating my first studio in my oldest sister's room after she left for college, to having multiple professional studios and galleries, I know how powerful it is to have a creative space to connect and grow within.

The Rialto Center for Creativity will help our community thrive. It'll provide a space for ideas to flourish and manifest into plays, projects, art galleries, and inspired experiences. As someone raising two artists, I'm thrilled that I'll be able to possibly see them on stage downtown and that they'll have access to world-class entertainment so close to home. 

Why do you think supporting creativity matters? 

The gift of creativity is so powerful. It's transformative. If people aren't given the opportunity, you will never see what could come out of it. Part of the gift of being an artist, a patron of the arts, someone who appreciates the arts, or someone who supports the arts, is that you're helping people access the potential to be greater. 

When I was a teacher in Westfield, I made a point of attending the play McKinley Elementary put on each year, where parents, teachers, and children performed. There was a quiet student in my art class whom I had known for years. I went to the play, and he was in it. When he got on stage, you would have never known it was the same student. I've never experienced anything like it. Years later, I went to WHS to see their annual play, and he was in it as one of the leads. Just like that, he found his thing, and it transformed him. I am sure his peers were also inspired by him and found the strength to pursue their own passions after seeing him shine in his.

Art gives us self-esteem, leadership, problem-solving skills, access to creative solutions, and more. There are only things to gain for giving, and giving is a gift in itself, because it brings more joy into the world and elevates us all.

About the Rialto Center for Creativity

The Rialto Center for Creativity is transforming Westfield’s historic Rialto Theater into a vibrant hub for cultural conversation, live performances, and hands-on learning. 

The Rialto Center for Creativity is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c )(3).