Richard Deutsch | |
---|---|
Born | 1953 Los Angeles, California, US |
Nationality | American |
Education | University of California, Santa Cruz |
Known for | Sculpture |
Movement | Minimalism, Expressionism |
Richard Deutsch (born 1953) is an American sculptor who works primarily in the Minimalist and Expressionist genres.[1] Although his work ranges from small table-top pieces to multi-story sculptures, Deutsch "is well-known for his large-scale architectural and environmental projects."[2][3]
Deutsch was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1953.[1][3] His grandparents emigrated to the United States from Russia in the first decade of the 20th century.[1] His mother worked for the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.[1]
Deutsch received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1976.[1][2] He originally worked only in ceramics, and was influenced by Bizen ware (a type of very hard, reddish Japanese ceramic sculpture and pottery).[1] The first solo exhibition of his work occurred in Seattle, Washington, in 1978.[1] In 1981, his work was part of the "American Porcelain" exhibit at the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution.[4] (His contribution, "Equinox," is now part of the museum's permanent collection.[5]) After several years of exhibiting on the West Coast and making larger and larger sculptures, Deutsch decided in the mid-1980s to work in other materials (such as bronze, concrete, granite, plaster, stainless steel, and terrazzo) and begin creating much larger artworks designed for public spaces.[1][3][6]
In 2000, Deutsch collaborated with choreographer Liss Fain on her dance piece "Quarry."[6] Real-time images of Deutsch at work on a sculpture ("Seven Stones," a 20 by 36 feet (6.1 by 11.0 m) granite piece) were transmitted via the Internet and projects onto a scrim and four background panels while six dancers improvised movement (which was intended to make them appear to be interacting with the Deutsch).[6][7] Technical difficulties marred the performance.[8]
Deutsch lives in Davenport, California.[3][8]
Deutsch has described his more recent work as an attempt to create an "artist-driven environment" in which the audience interacts with his art by seeing it, touching it, being able to stop and contemplate it, and move through it.[2][3] His public art is highly contextual, and he researches the history and setting of a site before beginning his work.[2] His sculpture is also often collaborative, as he works with architects, engineers, and landscape architects to ensure that his art fits with the site.[2]
Deutsch works at a number of studio/workshops in China, Italy, and the United States, and utilizes material from around the world.[2]
The more notable of Deutsch's works include:
Deutsch was a Visiting Artist in 1987 at the American Academy in Rome, and received a grant in 1984 from the National Endowment for the Arts.[1] In 2007, Santa Cruz County, California, named him County Artist of the Year.[19]