Approaching Distance
Todd B. Richmond
“Approaching Distance,” solo exhibition, features the most recent series of paintings by Todd B. Richmond – “Manzanita 01 and 02” (2022), and “Woodgrain, Fruits and Blossoms 01, 02 ,03” (2023). Both series use vinyl and oil paint, incorporating the tone of the raw linen structure in the palette. Each painting employs sparseness by relationships of objects and in the utilization of unpainted linen. “Manzanita 01 and 02” center on a lone manzanita tree surviving the elements, in beautiful yet harsh environment showing past trauma evident through signs of drought and fire. Richmond’s paintings reveal an aura of survival where new growth continues. “Woodgrain, Fruits and Blossoms 01, 02 ,03”, show a sparse mixture of items, ubiquitous today but had once originated from disparate locations. The central blossom features the bougainvillea, a plant originally from South America and carried around the world by Portuguese explorers and colonists – surrounded by mangoes and Sampaguita (Jasmine) that originate from Southeast Asia and China. The imagery of woodgrain is a nod to Richmond’s work with the late artist Richard Artschwager, whose influence on conceptual and pop art scenes migrated from New York City to the global art world. A migration of images, whether viewing the expansiveness of the terrain in the “Manzanita series”, or the details in the “Woodgrain, Fruits and Blossoms series”, the imagery in the large-scale paintings approach a place of contemplation.
About the Artist
Todd B. Richmond is a NYC-based artist whose creative practice includes painting, design, film, sound, and music. He received his MFA in Fine Arts at Otis College of Art & Design, and CalArts/Graduate Program in Art & Technology; BA from City College of New York in Music with Film Studies, where he was awarded The ASCAP Foundation Warner/Chappell Scholarship. As a visual artist, he was assistant to renowned artist Richard Artschwager from 1990-95 creating major works for museums and galleries worldwide. Richmond’s large-scale paintings and installations have been shown in New York City and Los Angeles including solo shows at TOPAZ ARTS, NY; Chashama lobby exhibitions: currently “Approaching Distance” at 1155 Ave of the Americas, NY; “Coast/Coast” at 733 Third Avenue, NY, Jan-Jun 2022; “Dark Forest” at Bolsky Gallery in Los Angeles, 2017. Group shows include Private Public Gallery in Hudson, NY; collaboration with artist Manuel Ocampo at Tyler Rollins Fine Art, NY; Fountain Art Fair at the Armory; P.E.S. Limited in Midtown Manhattan; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; among others. His dance films have been selected for Fifth Wall Fest, American Dance Festival’s International Screendance, and Dance on Camera Festival at NYPL Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. Awards include 2021 City Artist Corp Grant, NEA, among others. Richmond is Co-Founding Director of TOPAZ ARTS, Inc. – a nonprofit arts organization founded in 2000 with collaborating artist Paz Tanjuaquio, establishing a creative development center for contemporary performance and visual arts. www.topazarts.org
For more information on Todd Richmond, visit his website.
