Ruby City, the bright red contemporary art center nestled in the industrial edges of San Antonio’s Southtown, opened in 2019 as the public-facing museum of the Linda Pace Foundation. Though it’s best known for its gem-like architecture and global contemporary art collection, the institution also carries a less obvious throughline. Trinity students and alumni have shaped its history, leadership and the next generation of museum professionals who pass through its doors.
The connection began with Linda Pace, artist, collector, philanthropist and class of ‘80. The foundation created Ruby City after her death in 2007, and today, her fellow alumni steward the collection she built. Students gain hands-on experience in the institution she envisioned, and these ties have formed a multigenerational Trinity presence that has shaped one of San Antonio’s most distinctive cultural institutions.
Pace graduated from Trinity with a degree in fine arts in 1980. Patricia Morales, head of public engagement and communications for Ruby City, said that much of the artwork on view was acquired by Pace herself. The foundation continues to collect in ways that reflect her artistic sensibilities and core values of social justice and accessibility.
“One of the things that I think is really special about Ruby City’s collection is that it is very personal,” Morales said. “We continue to collect works that are influenced by Linda’s personal collecting. In that way, it’s personally reflective of Linda and the way that she thought about how art could help guide conversations, reflect experiences and perspectives.”
The building itself reflects Pace’s imagination. The foundation enlisted British architect David Adjaye to design a structure from a dream she once sketched from memory.
“Linda had a dream of a bejeweled red building coming up from the ground to house her artwork,” Morales said. “Ruby City is a really special place for us to tour, because we’re literally stepping into this woman’s dream that has become realized. This ultimate dream was essentially a gift that she left for a city that she very much loved.”
That vision is now stewarded by Trinity alum Rachel Mauldin, class of ‘82, who serves as Ruby City’s manager of collections and exhibitions. Mauldin built a decades-long career across major institutions, including the Witte Museum, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the American Research Center in Egypt, before joining Ruby City in 2023.
“I’ve been in the field for 35 years, and I see Ruby City as the end of the line. I feel so incredibly fortunate to have landed here,” Mauldin said. “It really is a great honor, and a huge part of that is what Linda gave to the city, this gem of a place.”
Mauldin described Ruby City as deeply accessible, free to the public and welcoming to visitors from all backgrounds. While some locals may be unaware of the museum, Mauldin said, the institution attracts international visitors, and through Art Pace residencies, artists as well.
“It’s a little secret to many San Antonians,” Mauldin said. “But each week, we see people from all over the world.”
Annika Wyatt, senior art major, was first let in on the secret of Ruby City in 2022 while exploring Southtown. Now, as the exhibitions and collections intern, Wyatt works directly with archival materials and artworks. Through this hands-on role, she said that her experience at Ruby City has reshaped her understanding of museums and archive work.
“With my experience at Ruby City, it’s been about cultivating a variety of skills that I can take into any number of arts-related careers,” Wyatt said. “Now that I’ve done this work, I’d really love to be a collections manager.”
Wyatt’s role has also brought her closer to Pace’s legacy. Through conversations at Artpace — Linda Pace’s nonprofit artist residency program — with artists who knew Pace personally, Wyatt has come to understand the woman behind Ruby City as a collector and collaborator.
“She genuinely wanted to hear the thoughts, opinions and needs of artists within her community,” Wyatt said. “That really is reflected now in Artpace and Ruby City.”
For Trinity students who haven’t visited, Wyatt said that Ruby City is approachable above all else, with free parking and a welcoming atmosphere. She recommended attending an artist talk, where the community gathers to celebrate new exhibitions on display.
“We tend to get stuck in the Trinity bubble, but it’s only 13 minutes away,” Wyatt said. “Contemporary art can be a little bit intimidating and inaccessible, but at Ruby City, there’s no one correct way to experience it. I think it’s worth a try to see if you find something new you like.”
There are many opportunities for Trinity students to introduce themselves to the institution. Today, March 20, KRTU and Ruby City’s “Music in the Park” series contiunes with a free jazz concert featuring José Amador and Terra Nova at Chris Park.
