Stephen Rueff

Stephen Yogi Rueff grew up in Minneapolis collecting comic books in the 1960s and loves his role as co-founder of SuperMonster市City!, where he is a curator and managing director.

SuperMonster市City! places American monsters, superheroes, and villains as represented in toys, games, posters, and more, into social and political contexts. Through informative texts, artist profiles, and commentary, these fun and engaging exhibitions feature America’s iconic mythical figures from America’s Golden Age of toys.

SuperMonster市City! was co-founded by master collector David Barnhill and curator Rueff. The traveling exhibits are derived from Barnhill’s collection of 200,000 toys, posters, games, and films. Rueff, as Managing Director and Curator, places the objects in social and political contexts through reflective and informative texts, artist profiles, and commentary. Barnhill and Rueff enjoy sharing America’s iconic mythical figures from America’s Golden Age of toys.

Rueff has worked in the arts as a performer, designer, manager, and producer, touring around the globe with performing artists such as MacArthur Genius Award Recipients Meredith Monk and Bill T. Jones, as well as Blue Man Group, Karen Finley, and many, many other artists and creatives. As an Account Manager and Executive Producer for global corporate communications companies Jack Morton Worldwide and BI Worldwide, he produced events throughout the United States, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, and Bahrain.

Rueff now enjoys coaching business start-ups and is Chair of the Arts Entrepreneurship department at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. His academic research explores American culture and the role of fear in play, and through toys, monsters, superheroes, and villains.

Rueff earned his MBA with an emphasis in Leadership and Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School. Rueff’s BA from Empire State University, the same college attended by Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man! ‘Nuff said.