Linda Rufo is a Filipino American visual artist, muralist, and educator whose work bridges personal resilience and community transformation. Born in Cebu City, Philippines on November 6, 1960, Rufo earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of the Philippines (1976–1980). She relocated to New York City in 1990, where she established herself as a freelance artist, art restorer, and instructor.
Rufo’s artistic journey began in childhood, sketching beneath her mother’s piano and absorbing the rhythms of visual and musical expression. Despite early pressure to pursue medicine, she followed her passion for art, a decision that led her to paint professionally at venues like Rockefeller Center and for private clients across the city.
Her life and career were shaped by major events: after 9/11, she adapted to shifting opportunities, working multiple jobs to support her children. Then, Hurricane Sandy devastated her home and studio, destroying much of her artwork. In response, Rufo co-founded ArtBeat 5, a nonprofit collective that brings art to underserved communities in Queens. One of their most impactful projects was a full-scale mural transformation of the Rego Park Senior Center, depicting scenes from Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Today, she continues to teach, paint, and lead public art initiatives not for fame, but to uplift others and create spaces of shared beauty and meaning.
