Ruby Singleton Blakeney was born in Sumter, South Carolina, the youngest of eight children. She has lived in the Maryland area for over 25 years. Ruby’s early involvement with art appreciation began during her world travels, while collecting art for her home.
Ruby was formerly with the City of Annapolis, where she was appointed by Mayor Ellen Moyer, as the Director of Small and Minority Business Enterprise, while managing her own business, Ruby Singleton Blakeney, Art Sales & Consulting. Prior to her 30+ years of art sales and consulting, and a city official, Ruby held management positions at TRW Credit Data, in its New York and Maryland branch offices. She also worked as a wardrobe consultant for Nordstrom, as a modeling consultant for English Sportswear, Inc., an account executive for ASAP Temporary Staffing Services on Capitol Hill, Co-owner of Zzaj Gallery located in Harlem, N.Y. and marketing and public relations manager for the Eastport Clipper.
Ruby founded the art sales and consulting company, J2R and Associates, in 1980. Her personalized service, combined with her broad knowledge of fine art, keen eye for design and color and a reputation for art selection among her growing client book, led her to the opening of the Ruby Blakeney Gallery at Historic Savage Mill in Savage, Maryland, in 1991. With four sales associates and a seven-day-a-week operation, the Ruby Blakeney Gallery flourished. The collection captured the interest of many Maryland, regional and international art investors. For a strategic location and client accommodation, a decision was made to relocate to the busy historic seaport of Annapolis, Maryland, which hosts the world’s oldest and most prestigious annual in-water showing of sailing and power yachts. This same site ironically is where Kunta Kinte arrived from Gambia on a slave ship, the Lord Ligonier, in 1767, which is now commemorated by a statue of Alex Haley, author of Roots, who traces his ancestry to Kunta Kinte’s arrival at the Annapolis city dock. Ruby owns her virtual D’Art Gallery, which is heavily influenced by a varied collection of seaport and African influences which are evident in the works of the artists she represents.
Among her many accomplishments, Ruby has served as commissioner for the commission on art and culture, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Board of directors, received numerous in community service awards, founder of the Annapolis Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America good Scout Award-Chairperson and featured in the Annapolitan Magazine’s as People to Watch article.