Richard Becker, an award-winning artist, creates realistic and expressive sculptures, from portraits to monumental works. His art, including paintings, explores themes of contribution, joy and wonder. Richard is a Fellow of The National Sculpture Society, the highest honor from the nation’s leading figurative sculpture organization.
Born and raised in Southeast Los Angeles where he explored his creativity through photography, literature, and motocross racing. Becker began his adult career in the sciences, working his way through school and eventually earning a Master’s in Engineering from Stanford University and obtaining several patents. Becker credits his artistic awakening to his progressing deafness and a three-year assignment in Europe. While living in Barcelona and traveling abroad he began to blend the arts and sciences.
Becker has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions and has been a technical collaborator with several artists and institutions, most notably ”the father of Pop Art” Richard Hamilton, The Getty Conservation Institute and The Tate London. He has been commissioned to create monumental works of public and corporate art as diverse as the POW Monument at the US National Cemetery, multiple portrait busts for The Emmys Hall of Fame, a heroic stainless steel Mercury for the Los Angeles Athletic Club and a bronze sculpture of Homer Simpson for 20th Century Fox.
After receiving a cochlear implant in 2014 that restored his hearing, Becker’s latest works reflect his joy of rejoining the world of sound and conversation. He divides his studio time between commissioned portrait busts, public art projects, and personal works.
Becker lives and works in San Diego, California.
CV
Born
Los Angeles, California
Education
Stanford University, Master of Science
Escola d’Art, Barcelona
Martine Vaugel Studios
Awards, Recognition & Affiliations
Elected Member of the National Sculpture Society, New York City, NY
National Sculpture Society’s Edward Fenno-Hoffman Prize for uplifting works
Holds several US and Foreign Patents
Elected Member of the Portrait Sculptor Society of the Americas
Elected Member of the San Diego Museum of Art Artist Guild. Honored as guild's youngest "100 Artists of the Past 100 Years"
Clients & Collections
The City of Palm Springs
Twentieth Television
Gracie Films
The Scripps Research Institute
City of San Diego, California
City of National City, California
City of Poway, California
City of Laguna Hills, California
City of Santa Monica, California
City of Newport Beach, California
Hewlett Packard Corporation
Good Samaritan Foundation
ResMed Corporation
The University of the West of England
The Walt Disney Company
US National Cemetery Administration
Dr. Peter Farrell
Ron Howard
Seth MacFarlane
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Oceanside Museum of Art / Oceanside Beachfront Resort
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmys Hall of Fame 12 sculptures).
Selected Exhibitions
Newport Beach Civic Center Sculpture Park, Newport Beach, CA (2019-2021)
Downtown Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade Artwork, City of Santa Monica, CA (2019 - ongoing)
30x30, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, CA (2019)
Minis, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA (2019)
Float, a solo show of new paintings and sculpture, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA (2018)
California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles (2018)
Kaaboo Del Mar (2017)
National Sculpture Society Southern California Exhibition, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA (2017)
Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA (2015)
National Sculpture Society Awards, Brookgreen Gardens, SC (2010)
Art Renewal Center Salon (2010, 2011)
National Sculpture Society Awards, Park Avenue Atrium, New York City (2008)
National Sculpture Society: “The Sea,” Park Avenue Atrium, New York City (2005)
Fingerhut Gallery, La Jolla, CA (2002)
Reviews
“What Becker expresses cannot be taught” — San Diego Union Tribune
“Bronze Brilliance” — Décor and Style Magazine
“Genius” – Matt Groening -- Artist and Creator of The Simpsons
"♡" – Jerry Saltz
"...springboards for the imagination." -- Sculpture Review Magazine
“Mr. Becker’s artistic abilities are exquisite; his professional work ethic, impeccable. This artist does what he promises to do, on time and on budget.” — Karen Hathaway, CEO LAACO LTD, Mercury Sculpture, Los Angeles Athletic Club
"Extraordinary work." -- Ron Howard, Actor, Writer and Producer
Statement
While living in Barcelona out shopping for plates, on a whim I bought a bag of clay that was a shopkeeper’s door stop. This simple act ignited my life’s passion for art. It's been an unstoppable journey since first sinking my hands into that clay.
Whether making a small sculpture, a portrait bust, a painting or a monument, I strive to create art that is inspiring. Art has the power to lift us and to unite us and I hope that my creations bring some positive inspiration into the lives of their beholders.