Richard D. York
Ancestry: Cherokee
Based In: Milwaukie, OR
Email: richard@richarddyork.com
Social Media: richarddyorkstudio.tumblr.com
Website: richarddyorkstudio.com
About the Art
My intent is to make art that initiates dialogue, connection with others, facilitates community and honors my ancestors. Art is healing. I do not see my work as truly becoming art until another individual engages with it, bringing their personal experience and spirit to bear. Cherokee traditional values of helping each other, honoring the sacredness of spirit in all fellow beings guide me in life and my work. It is important for me to promote stewardship of the earth, plants and animals. Creating art and making are my center and my power to honor and protect these entities. The healing from art starts through sharing and culminates with the dialogue and connection it generates.
About the Artist
Richard D. York is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. He was born in Granger, Utah and was raised in Utah, Alaska, Idaho and Oregon. He received his Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies degree from Pacific Northwest College of Art 2014. He was a recipient of PNCA’s MFA in Visual Studies Merit Scholarship for 2012-2014. During his graduate studies Richard was awarded the 2013 Caldera MFA in Visual Studies Residency in Sisters Oregon. In addition to participating in multiple solo and group shows in the Portland and Vancouver metro area.
Richard has had 4 paintings exhibited in The Art of the West 2019 exhibit and has 3 Paintings exhibited in the Art of the West 2020 exhibition at the High Desert Museum in Bend Oregon. In October 2018 he had a solo show of his paintings at the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation headquarters in Vancouver Washington. In 2017 he had 4 paintings selected for publication in American Artwork 2018 Edition. He also had his paintings selected for publication in Volume Twenty-Five, the spring 2014 edition, of Studio Visit Magazine. Richard’s paintings have also been selected, on four separate occasions, to appear on the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Emerging Artists Blog. In June 2014 Richard was selected as featured artist for ARTE FUSE, a contemporary online art magazine.
Richard graduated Cum Laude in 1996 from Boise State University, receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a dual emphasis in painting and photography. Richard then worked as a Medical/Public relations photographer for fourteen years, starting at the Portland VA hospital for 2 years and continuing at Oregon Health & Science University for 12 years.
Apart from showing his work regularly Richard enjoys the opportunity to present his artwork and share culture with others. He has given presentations and classes on his artwork to the Mt. Hood Cherokees community group. He recently did virtual studio visits at 2 local elementary schools, where he showed his artwork and spoke about Cherokee culture and how it relates to his art. He also teaches classes on drum and shaker making in his spare time.
