Sterling Ruby's window paintings, notably from his WIDW and TURBINE series, showcase a dynamic blend of abstract elements and intense, expressive energy that reflects on contemporary societal and political tensions. These series represent a significant part of Ruby's broader exploration into the intersections of different mediums—combining painting, collage, and more to redefine conventional artistic boundaries.

The TURBINE series, initiated in 2021, moves away from the stark vertical divisions of the WIDW paintings, embracing energetic, intersecting diagonals instead. These works incorporate materials like acrylic, oil, and cardboard on canvas, suggesting elemental forces pushing toward the frame's edges. This shift signifies a departure from the notion of viewing action through a window to a more tumultuous, storm-blown narrative where the elements are set in motion, evoking a political tension without being explicitly bound to a specific interpretation​ (GalleriesNow)​​ (FAD Magazine)​.

In contrast, the WIDW series, first exhibited in 2018, integrates acrylic, oil, elastic, and cardboard on canvas, employing a composite nature that closely relates to Ruby's DRFTRS works on paper. The materials used in this series reflect another form of archaeology—the excavation of the artist's studio, delving into the formal equation of the window. These paintings engage with abstract and figurative elements, prompting thought-provoking reflections on self-destruction and societal changes, with references to movements such as Futurism and Russian Constructivism​ (Xavier Hufkens)​.

Ruby's work in these series is marked by a deep engagement with materiality and process. The TURBINE paintings, for example, are created horizontally and employ a washing technique previously used in textile works, allowing the canvases to be dyed in luminous colors and marked by studio activities. This process, alongside the use of cardboard evolved from the EXHM series, creates a flurried motion within the works, juxtaposing hard edges with feathered and smudged paint to produce a vibrant, kaleidoscopic effect​ (GalleriesNow)​​ (FAD Magazine)​.

Through these series, Ruby demonstrates an acute awareness of the charged times we live in, crafting works that, while not didactic, still convey recognizable elements that prompt reflection on broader social and ideological frictions.