CV
Kayla Rukab
904 - 440 - 4078
kaylarukab@gmail.com
https://kaylarukab.my.canva.site/portfolio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylarukab/
About
Professional Concept Artist and Freelance Painter. I specialize in contemporary acrylic paintings and illustrative works for 3D animated films. Active, exhibiting artist with portfolio of work available through my website or by contact. Three-time Scholastic Art and Writing awardee and two-time NCWIT Computing Aspirations awardee. I have raised over $1,000 for medical relief in the Middle East through my auctioned original paintings. Seeking commissioned and or contract work for professional use.
Education
2026 BA in Studio Art, Major in Painting University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
2026 BA in Digital Arts and Sciences, Major in 3D Animation University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Professional Appointments
September 2024–Present Mentor, Digital Arts and Sciences Mentor Mentee Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
August 2024–Present Museum University Student Educator, Harn Museum, Gainesville, FL
June 2024–Present Outreach Coordinator, Students for Justice in Palestine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Aug 2023–Dec 2023 Photographer, Swamp Restaurant, Gainesville, FL
June 2021–Present Committee Member, Preservation Project of Palestine, Remote
June 2021–Present Graphic Designer, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, Remote
June 2021–Present Business Owner, Etsy, Remote
Grants & Awards
2022 Beaches Go Green Scholarship Ambassador
2022 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipient (2 Gold)
2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipient (1 Gold, 1 Silver)
2020 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipient (1 Gold, 1 Silver)
2020 NWCIT: Aspirations in Computing Award Recipient
2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Award Recipient (1 Silver)
Software & Skills
Maya
Toonboom Harmony
Unity
Cinema 4D
Monday.com
Excel
AdobeXD
Photoshop
Illustrator
Procreate
After Effects
CodeBlocks
Microsoft Visual Studio
Canva
HTML
Python
C++
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Solo Exhibition, A Homeland’s Tale, 4Most Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Forthcoming
2025 Group Exhibition, Coming Home, 4Most Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Forthcoming
2025 Group Exhibition, Student Juried Exhibition, Gary R. Libby University Gallery, Gainesville, FL, Forthcoming
2024 Solo Exhibition, On This Land, Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa, Jacksonville Beach, FL
2022 Group Exhibition, PRISM, Warphaus, Gainesville, FL
2023 Group Exhibition, Liberation Collective, Hippodrome Theater of Downtown Gainesville, FL
2021 Group Exhibition, WeaveTales: Journey to a New Home, American Federation of
Ramallah Palestine, Jacksonville, FL
2021 Group Exhibition, Downtown Museum of Jacksonville, FL, Scholastic Art & Writing
2020 Group Exhibition, Downtown Museum of Jacksonville, FL, Scholastic Art & Writing
2019 Group Exhibition, Downtown Museum of Jacksonville, FL, Scholastic Art & Writing
Commissions
2024 Musa Farmand, book illustrations, Jacksonville, FL
2023 Jamie Osterhoudt, acrylic painting, Jacksonville FL
2022 Maha Osterhoudt, acrylic painting, Jacksonville FL
2022 Madilyn Hicks, tattoo stencil, Jacksonville FL
2021 Salem Farmand, acrylic painting, Jacksonville FL
2021 Salem Farmand, acrylic painting, Jacksonville FL
2020 Jason Bajalia, painted mural, Jacksonville FL
2019 Ruba Farah, acrylic painting, Jacksonville, FL
References
Khatsho Orfali
Technical Assitant, Industrial Light & Magic
khatsho@ilm.com
707-338-4214
Errol Nelson
Student Engagement Manager, Harn Museum
enelson@harn.ufl.edu
352-294-7058
Peter Gouge
Distinguished Adjunct Professor, UF, Department of Art
petergouge@ufl.edu
352-231-5170
Antoine Williams
Distinguished Assistant Professor, UF, Department of Art
awilliams25@ufl.edu
Professional Organizations
Artists Against Apartheid
Students for Justice in Palestine
American Federation of Ramallah Palestine
Beaches Go Green
Harn Museum of Art
School of Art + Art History
Digital Arts and Sciences Mentor Mentee
Best Buddies
Camp Ramallah
Foreign Languages
Arabic - Proficient
ASL - Fluent
Spanish - Proficient