Ruth Braunstein

Ruth Braunstein was a San Francisco–based art dealer whose career was defined by her early advocacy for ceramics as fine art and her support of both West Coast and contemporary artists. After moving to the Bay Area in 1960, she founded Quay Gallery in Tiburon in 1961 and later established Braunstein/Quay Gallery in San Francisco in 1970, where she championed artists such as Peter Voulkos, Richard Shaw, Robert Brady, Bruce Conner, John Altoon, and Mary Snowden. A key figure in the regional art market, Braunstein co-founded the San Francisco Art Dealers Association in 1972, promoting collaboration and professionalization among dealers. Her work significantly shaped the recognition of ceramics within contemporary art and strengthened the institutional and commercial infrastructure of the San Francisco art scene.