Ruth Leavitt Fallon, an artist who explored computers as a form of self expression more than 50 years ago and who was recently recognized for her pioneering work, died of a thoracic aortic aneurysm Jan. 16 at her Charles Village home. She was 80.
Born Ruth Sharon Hartman in St. Paul, Minnesota, she was the daughter of Emil and Eva Hartman. According to a biography, she demonstrated an early interest in art as a child. As she matured she became more skilled and received art degrees from the University of Minnesota and the State University of New York at Buffalo.
She studied painting and was an abstract expressionist before turning to mainframe computers in 1967.
She came to Baltimore in 1987 to teach at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and met her future husband, Michael Fallon, a poet, creative writing and literature teacher.
“In 1968 Ruth began working on her art in the busy computer center at SUNY Buffalo late at night or in the early morning when it was not in use by others,” said her husband. “This led her to many new tools and insights which she incorporated into her artistic process, and eventually to edit the pioneering book, ‘Artist and Computer’ in 1976, where 35 artists from North America, Europe and Japan discuss how they used the computer to enable, develop and inform their process of creating art.”
Ms. Fallon painted in acrylics on canvas, made numerous silkscreen prints and created sculptures.
While her work was exhibited at the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, the Worcester Art Museum and the Musee’ d’art contemporain de Montreal (MAC), it gained wider recognition after a show at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
This led to a one-woman show at the RCM Galerie in Paris, France, in 2022.
“The show occasioned one of the best times in our lives,” said her husband.
The exhibition was followed by a group show of 50 women artists, titled “Radical Software: Women, Art and Computing,” at Mudam Luxembourg, a contemporary arts museum.
“Ruth was one of the original computer artists,” said Carol Anderson-Austra, a neighbor and friend. “She created wonderful art pieces. I loved her stuff. Like Ruth, it had heart. ”
She recalled Ms. Fallon’s easy move to representational painting after computer art. “When she went to Assateague in the summer, she painted an Amish woman walking in the water. In the spring, she painted picnickers at Sherwood Gardens. She was a sensitive to human closeness,” Ms. Anderson-Austra said.
Ms. Fallon’s work is currently on exhibit at the Electric Dreams show at Tate Modern in London and at the Kunsthalle Museum in Vienna.
“Ruth was a pioneering force who bridged artistic tradition and new technology with grace and curiosity,” her husband said. “Her accomplishments remind us of the power of embracing innovation, and her warmth and kindness serve as an enduring example to all who knew her.”
Ms. Fallon kept a color-filled garden outside her St. Paul Street home.
“She could talk for an hour to people who walked past,” said her husband. “She enjoyed these long conversations and all the times she kept her trowel in her hand.”
Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Michael Fallon; a son, Daniel E. Leavitt, of Caledonia, Michigan; and a grandson. Her marriage to Daniel E. Leavitt ended in divorce.
A gathering was held at the Mitchell-Weidefeld Funeral Home on Jan. 21.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570.