DIANE RICHEY-WARD Curriculum Vitae
Master of Arts Degree, Studio Art
California State University, Sacramento, Ca,
Bachelor of Arts Degree, California State University, Hayward, Ca. Academy of Art College, San Francisco, Ca.
2022 Open Studio, American Can Factory, Brooklyn, New York
2019 October Exhibition, Taita Studio Màlaga, Màlaga, Spain
2019 “Retrospective”, Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Sacramento, Ca.
2018 "Diane Richey-Ward/Mick Sheldon, E Street Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2018 "Exit Sharply" SLAK Ateliers, Arnhem, NL
2017 “Merging Forces” Artspace 1616 Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2016 “Seeking Coalescence” Standard Galleria, Independent Museum of Contemporary Art, Valencia, Spain
2015 “Intimate Migration”, Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai, China
2015 “Drawn from Abstraction”, SMUD Art Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2014 “Locomotion”, Draw International, Caylus France
2014 “La Vitesse de L’Idee” Union Hall Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2013 “A Fleeting Grasp”, Kaneko Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2012 “Suspended Animation”, Obras Exhibition, Renkum, NL
2010 “Attitude” Skinner/Howard Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2009 “Drawings-Zoetermeer”, BaZtille , Den Hague, NL
2008 “Drawings-Arnhem”, Artistiek Gallerie, Amsterdam, NL
2008 “On the Move”: Center for Visual Arts- Gelderland, Arnhem, NL
2007 Residency Exhibition, C’At Art , St. Columbe Sur L’ers, France
2006 “Drawing Now”, Exploding Head Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2020 15th Anniversary Exhibit, Artspace 1616 Gallery, Sacramento, California
2015 “Back to the Drawing Board” E Street Gallery, Sacramento, Ca.
2011 “July Artists” Ondarte Artist-in-Residence, Akumal, Mexico
2011 “TenYears at BaZtille, BaZtille Studios, Zoetermeer, NL
2010 “The Art of Teaching”, SMUD Center, Sacramento, Ca
2004 “Cowtown”, Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento, Ca.
2003 “The Other Side”, b.sakata garo, Sacramento, Ca
2004 “Annual Faculty Exhibit”, American River College, Sacramento, Ca.
2002 “Tribute to My Father” Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento, Ca
2019 Venezia Contemporanea Artist -in-residence, Venice, Italy
2019 Taita Studio Málaga Artist-in-residence, Málaga, Spain
2018 Atelier Holcnerova Residency, Lisbon, Portugal
2017 SLAK Guest Artist-in-Residency, Arnhem, NL
2016 “Estudio Galleria” Independent Museum of Contemporary Art Residency, Valencia, Spain
2016 “Obras” Art Residency, Estramoz, Portugal
2015 “Swatch Art Peace Hotel” Shanghai, China
2014 “Draw International’, Caylus, France
2012 Obras Artist-in-Residence, Renkum, NL
2012 Sucre Sol Artist-in-Residence, Barcelona, Spain
2011 Ondarte Artist-in-Residence, Akumal, Mexico
2009 BaZtille Artist-in-Residence, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
2008 SLAK Guest Artist-in-Residency, Arnhem, Netherlands
2007 C’at Art Artist-in-Residency, St. Columbe Sur L’Hers, France
2005 Kanaal 10 Guest Artist-in –Residency, Amsterdam, NL
2004 David and Julia White Artist’s Colony Residency, Costa Rica
2003 Banff Centre for Art Residency, Banff, Alberta Canada
2003 Camac Organization Artist-in-Residence, Paris, France
2002 Camac Organization Artist–in-Residence, Paris, France
2000 The Brydcliffe Artist in Residency, Woodstock, New York
1995 Studios Midwest, Galesburg, Illinois
1994- 2015: Professor of Art, (Drawing and Art History) American River College Sacramento, Ca.
Teaching Abroad: Professor of Art, NCSAC, Drawing and Art History Semesters taught: Paris, (2008), Florence (2009) and London (2010). Barcelona (2012).
Artist Statement:
Diane Richey-Ward
In my artistic practice, I explore the fusion of man-made and organic forms. Through a series of ongoing drawings, I combine elements of human craftsmanship with natural shapes. Previous exhibitions have showcased my work, which incorporated transparent and sculptural elements alongside video and drawing installations.
In my recent endeavors, I have expanded my artistic approach by integrating drawing into a broader scope. This involves combining photographic elements with the raw, expressive qualities of charcoal and pastel. By layering mechanical and natural forms, both in transparent photographic layers and hand-drawn images, I aim to discover dynamic formal configurations and unexpected mutations. This process allows me to delve into uncharted territories where entirely new forms emerge, as described by the photographer Diane Arbus: “It’s what I’ve never seen before that I recognize.”
The creation of large-scale charcoal drawings, combined with projected photographs, results in archival digital images presented on a grand scale. Some years ago, my fascination with the geometric structure of architectural forms led me to develop a body of work in Shanghai, China (2015) and Valencia, Spain (2016). These locations were chosen for their notable contemporary architecture, such as Santiago Calatrava’s “Ciudad des Artes y Siencias” in Valencia, which greatly influenced the evolution of my art in terms of form and imagination.
Before the pandemic, I embarked on art residencies in Malaga and Venice, which proved fruitful in exploring flamenco and carnival window reflections. This research yielded a collection of surrealistic and dream-like images.
Currently, my interest lies in reflective, geometric surfaces within still-life environments. These subjects offer a multitude of possibilities for combining hand-drawn marks with transparent imagery, investigating traditional themes in relation to movement and a compressed, abstracted space. As the series continues to evolve, I aim to present a cohesive fusion of form and narrative.
ARTIST BIO
Diane Richey-Ward is a practicing visual artist from Northern California. After completing her Master’s Degree in Studio Art from California State University, Sacramento, she began exhibiting her large-scale charcoal and pastel drawings in Sacramento, San Francisco and later at the Center for Contemporary Art and the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Diane worked as a full-time Professor of Art at American River College since 1999, teaching Drawing and Art History courses. In 2008 she was hired to teach Study Abroad semesters in Paris, London, Florence and Barcelona and combined those semesters with Artist-in-Residency fellowships, spending half her time in Europe for many years. Nearly every year for more than 25 years Diane participated as an Artist-in-Resident: working in Costa Rica, Canada, US, France, Spain, Portugal and Holland. For her 2015 residency in Shanghai, China, she was awarded a 3-month fellowship with the Swatch Art Peace Hotel; culminating with a multi-media exhibit/installation. Her latest work involves drawing, photography and video, and culminating in an art residencies and exhibitions in Málaga, Spain and Venice, Italy.