Under the artist name Scotty Ramon, Kid Cudi steps into a brand-new chapter with his very first solo exhibition, Echoes of the Past, presented with Ruttkowski;68 in Paris. While many know him for his music, this exhibition reveals another side of his creative world, one that feels deeply personal, playful, and emotionally raw.
What’s especially striking is how recent this journey is. Just a little over a year ago, Ramon picked up painting for the first time. His earliest work already set the tone: a large pink canvas with a small figure at its center, quietly hinting at self-sabotage and inner struggle. From there, everything opened up. Ideas poured out fast, leading to a vibrant body of work filled with bold colors, strong contrasts, and moments of darkness woven into beauty.
Throughout the exhibition, we meet “Max,” Ramon’s alter ego, sometimes fully dressed in baggy denim, sometimes chased by mischievous demons, sometimes reduced to a simple head or shadow. These figures feel symbolic rather than literal, touching on isolation, fear, and the courage it takes to face your inner truths. Ramon plays with biomorphic shapes, flat geometry, and color in a way that feels instinctive and rhythmic, almost like visual music.
In many ways, this artistic voice has always been there. As a child, Ramon dreamed of becoming a cartoonist, and that childlike freedom is still present, now layered with lived experience, reflection, and growth. Much like his music, the paintings sit in the space between melancholy and joy. They don’t tell you exactly how to feel; instead, they invite you to find yourself somewhere inside them.
Even when the imagery feels unsettling, the message remains open. The figures don’t seem trapped or lost; they feel like they’re moving forward, emerging from a nightmare and heading toward the light. To complete the experience, Ramon also created an original sound piece that plays throughout the exhibition. With atmospheric synths and pulsing beats, the music wraps around the paintings, deepening the mood and pulling visitors fully into his world.
Echoes of the Past isn’t just a debut; it’s an honest, evolving self-portrait, and a powerful reminder that creative expression can take many forms, at any moment in life.
