Rontherin Ratliff reclaims pieces of blighted houses and found objects to create assemblages and sculptural work that examine contemporary society. His work ranges from the small and delicate - a glass and metal sandwich that lays in the palm of one’s hand - to the architectural scale of his Rosebud mobile home. In 2019, Antenna Gallery is giving Ratliff his first solo show. This grant will support Ratliff as he develops new work for this show.

In New Orleans, Ratliff has exhibited his work at Xavier University, Tulane University’s Carroll Gallery, Contemporary Arts Center, and Prospect.1 and Prospect. 4 satellite exhibitions. In 2007, he collaborated in the set design for Paul Chan’s Waiting for Godot that was staged in the Lower 9th Ward and, in 2009, he was the artistic director for the set design of Guggenheim Museum’s production of Peter and the Wolf.  Ratliff was a collaborating artist for the nationally acclaimed street art installation ExhibitBe in New Orleans. His work has also been featured at 516 ARTS (Albuquerque, NM), Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA), Deering Estate (Miami, FL), Diverse Works (Houston, TX) and Art Route 2017 (Groningen, Netherlands). In 2014, Ratliff participated in the Joan Mitchell Foundation’s AIR program and, in 2015, he had a residency hosted by Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator (Miami, FL).

Ratliff’s collaborative practice led him to co-found Level Artist Collective with local artists of color living in New Orleans. Ratliff worked at YAYA as the Studio Manager in 2008-2012 and then as the Artistic Director 2012-2015.

He participated in the YAYA young artists’ guild 1995-2000.