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Artist Statement

I work in series and themes. This allows for complete and limitless exploration of forms from a particular subject. By use of my formal and informal education, I’m able to visually represent the psychology (how we feel) of the subject, and preserve those responses to the initial object. Although a lot of my work is abstract/abstract-expressionist/Neo-expressionist in nature, I do not limit myself to pure non-representational forms.

I label my art-style as fragmentation. I derived at this style through my art process and education, while developing my artist voice. The premiss is that shapes are our lifeblood—our earliest memories of the physical world. They are also the basis for our environment, whether organic, built, or both in design. However, one’s memory is distorted over time, hence fragmentation. Place is a way to bring back memories, which is why I combine place and graphic transformation into motifs, patterns, or variations of a subject. My educational background in art, art-history, film, information-science, music, and psychology provides me with the insight and mechanics on how to achieve this type of practice. A theme is typically established, and series are devised to represent that particular theme. These themes are intellectual, based on scenarios, inquiries, and/or interplays with the object or subject at hand.

Fragmentation art expression is the practice of extracting elements, shapes, or forms from the built and organic environments, in which are transformed through dissection and are rearranged into a visual composition. By use of archival remanence, memories, and psychological expression of a particular moment in place and time, the hope is that the visual compositions convey one’s recollection. I reinforce this process, which aims to stimulate the visual and emotional experiences, through use of varying materials and techniques.

Bio

Background, motivation, inspiration, and accomplishments

Richard (b. 1972) at the earliest of consciousness had creative curiosity, which was most often embraced through drawing, painting, and exploration of the natural environment. Growing up this creative curiosity took on all forms, from art and film, to music and writing. Richard however grew up California dreamin’ from seeing image slides every year from his parent’s three week honeymoon through California, Nevada and Arizona in hopes of making it their home. After a year at music school, Richard couldn’t shake the dream of one day venturing out west. This dream of the southwest and west coast lifestyle transcended Richard, and in the late summer of 1999, Richard fulfilled his dreams of trekking out west.

Richard landed in Southern California, City of Orange, the home of Chapman University. Richard studied Film, Art and Experimental Psychology. For his senior thesis, he used Itten’s Elements of Color theory as inspiration to improve letter recognition for children first learning to read.

Richard is an emerging artist/educator living and working in southern Nevada. Since 2020, Richard has been accepted into five juried group exhibitions, and developed a solo exhibition. Currently, Richard is creating works for a number of series. Richard has a vast educational experience with a BA and MA from Chapman University (CU) in Orange CA, and a MSIS in Archival Studies at the University of North Texas (UNT). Richard studied art, film, music, and psychology, which he continues to develop through research and daily practice. These varying disciplines have enabled Richard to develop a unique visual language to his art. Richard, a member of the Art Libraries Society of North America, is currently the Art, Architecture & Design Librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Richard is also an educator to the College of Fine Arts at UNLV. His mission as a librarian is to enhance the discovery and access of information resources in aims of knowledge creation for students, faculty and staff in the disciplines of Fine Arts. Richard’s art aims to visually transform the unconscious of our everyday interactions with the environment.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Education
  • 2018, MSIS — University of North Texas, TX
  • 2009, MA — Chapman University, Orange CA
  • 2003, BA — Chapman University, Orange CA
Solo Exhibitions
  • 2022, Richard Tam Alumni Center — At the Horizon Line
Group Exhibitions
  • 2021, A Passionate Life, Juired Exhibition, Las Vegas City Hall Chamber Gallery, Las Vegas NV
  • 2021, Juired Exhibition, Las Vegas Government Center Rotunda — Sizable
  • 2021, Curated Exhibition, UNLV Donna Beam Gallery — Blooming Fruition
  • 2020, Juried Exhibition, UNLV Donna Beam Gallery — Justice
  • 2020, Juried Exhibition, Winchester Gallery — Existing in Thought
Collections
  • 2021, City Hall Loan Program, City of Las Vegas
Press
  • Las Vegas Channel 8 KLAS website