Richard Downs (Monotypes)

Richard Downs’ art making combines contemporary aesthetics with the rich history of sculpture and printmaking to create images that feel both current and timeless. He has worked for most United States periodicals and newspapers ranging from Smithsonian Magazine to the New York Times and international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations publication divisions.

Downs is a graduate of Art Center College of Design and was a faculty member for 6 years and he currently teaches in the Applied Art & Design department at Sierra College and Online Illustration classes for the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. Richard has received numerous awards for his work including the Society of Illustrators Museum in New York and American Illustration. Richard creates media appropriate and conceptually appropriate image making for a wide range of clients and art collectors.

Downs transfigures steel, twisted wire, painting and printmaking into a visual mythology celebrating human connectedness. Classically trained, Richard emerged out of Art Center Pasadena as an accomplished printmaker and visual storyteller inspired by Russian Constructivism and the “Kustomizer” car culture of the 1950s and 60s. During his more than 30 years of dedication to the fine arts, Richard Downs exhibits his sculptures, etchings and paintings throughout the United States.

The Artist

In 2017 Richard was named a finalist for the Fire Station 15 Public Art Project for the city of Sacramento. Richard’s Monotype Couple #303 was selected by The Hunter Museum of American Art for their 2015 Art Auction. Richard’s work was selected for the Crocker art museums 2012 Art Auction. His monotype, “Couple #203” was auctioned at the Crocker art museum and enjoyed a record price for one of his works on paper. Richard’s sculptural work Couple #276 was selected for the Crocker art museums 2014 Art Auction and enjoyed a record price for one of sculptures. His work was profiled in the June 2013 Issue of Sactown Magazine, the Winter 2013 issue of Studio Visit, the January issue of US Airways Magazine, and the June 2014 issue of San Francisco Magazine and a feature cover article in the August 2014 issue of Designer Magazine published by UCDA (University & College Designers Association) titled, “Reinventing Richard Downs”. Richard lives in Nevada City with his wife and artist Gwyn Stramle

Exhibition Record

2018 Frederick Holmes & Company – Seattle – September
2018 SPACE 151 – Room for Thought – San Francisco – March
2018 TEW Galleries – Pictorial Whimsy – Atlanta – February
2017 101/EXHIBIT Figurative Futures – Group Show – West Hollywood, CA
2017 Named a finalist for the Fire Station 15 Public Art Project, – Sacramento, CA
2016 The Darker Side of Pink – Group Show , Jay Jay Gallery, Sacramento, CA
2015 The Hunter Museum of American Art, Art Auction, Chattanooga, TN
2015 Pictorial Adventures – TEW Galleries – Atlanta – August
2015 Summer Show – Frederick Holmes & Company – Seattle – March
2015 Two Person Show – TEW Galleries – Atlanta – March
2014 Crocker art museum -“2012 Art Auction” Sacramento – June
2014 University of Kansas – Hallmark Lecture Series – The School of Architecture, Design and Urban Planning, January
2014 The Motorhead Traveler – Selected by the tourism boards, Visit California and Visit Oakland to work with Travel Television Host Kevin Cullen to create his self portrait in steel wire to help promote the arts in Oakland, CA March
2014 US Airways Magazine – “Celebrate Oakland, CA” feature article for the Transmission Gallery – work included
2013 Solo Exhibit – The Transmission Gallery – Oakland – December
2013 Studio Visit Magazine – Inclusion in the magazine December
2013 Solo Exhibit – Red Dot Gallery – Sacramento – July
2013 American Illustration 32 – 1 piece selected

2012 American Illustration 31 – 2 pieces selected
2012 Crocker art museum -“2012 Art Auction” Sacramento – June
2012 Sacramento Temporary Contemporary -“Memory” May
2012 Gallery 2110 – “Human Voice”- March
2011 The Center for the Arts – Solo Show – Richard Downs “Couples and Curious Creatures”-Opening June 20 – July 11, 2011 Grass Valley, Ca
2011 Sacramento Temporary Contemporary- Group Show – “Looking Back, Looking Forward” curated by Robert Ray Opening
May 12 – June 4, 2011
2011 Sacramento Temporary Contemporary- Solo Show – “Couples by Richard Downs”-Opening March 10 -April 10, 2011
2011 New York Society of Illustrators Museum- Included in the Institutional Exhibit, Illustrators 53 -February 23-March 19, 2011
2011 Skinner Howard Contemporary- Sacramento-Risque Valentine Show February 12 – March 5, 2011
2010 New York Society of Illustrators 53 – 2 Illustrations accepted into the exhibition and book
2010 Invitation from the Sea Turtle Restoration Project to be included in an exhibit and benefit to help support the restoration of habitat destroyed by the BP oil spill.
2010 Work included in the New York Society of Illustrators Museum exhibit EARTH: Fragile Planet and included in the Traveling Exhibition
2010 Work Included in Illustrators 52 Traveling Exhibition. Tour dates from September 2010 through July 2011
2010 New York Society of Illustrators -52nd Illustration Annual- 5 Illustrations accepted into the exhibition and book