About the Artist
Interview with the artist showing the Earth Etchings process, 2015
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I am a ‘Land Artist’ with my studio located in southern Ontario. I was born in New Jersey and raised in the midwestern United States and on a prairie family farm, moving to Toronto, Canada in 1987. My art practice is based at a live/work rural studio on the edge of the Canadian Shield beside the Crowe River, exploring relationships between human culture and nature, and rural/urban culture.
My work focuses on our relationship to nature and the environment, in the context of North American history, colonization, and how the continent was originally travelled – in wood, skin, and bone crafts along the waterways, through seemingly endless rocks, trees, and lakes. Responding to contemporary issues of environmental change, the work explores global climate change issues, particularly connected to water, deforestation, species migration, and seasonal shifts. On a more personal level, it also explores human spiritual-emotional connections to each other and to nature. In my practice I respond strongly to environment. In 2007 when I changed locations from an urban to a rural context, I became influenced by the Canadian wilderness landscape in a different manner. Museum and art shows for Earth Etchings and related work include: 'From Lausanne to Beijing' Beijing Biennale (2025-26), 'Reconnection', Robert Langen Art Gallery (2021), Tom Thomson Museum Solo Survey Exhibition (2019), 'Place2B', Paris, France, group exhibition during COP21 Paris Climate Agreement (2015), 'The Three Seasons', Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George, B.C. (2014), 'International Earth Art Exhibition', Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario, (2014), 'The Three Seasons', MacLaren Art Centre, Ontario (2012), MacLaren Art Centre (2012), 'Salmon Run' commission, Kelowna, BC (2006) (three steel sculptures), 'Ark' sculpture under the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge City Park (2007) and others. Projects in-development and future exhibitions include: 'Passages' and 'Ghost Forest'. A triptych piece from the Insect Writing series – involving interwoven gauze layers, vulcanized latex rubber, cedar tree grain and tannins with imprinted chewed insect patterns, hung on rusted gas pipes – is being exhibited at the 13th International Fiber Art Biennale, “From Lausanne to Beijing”, at the Art Museum of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, starting December 6th, 2025 to March 1st, 2026. The work has received feature print and television coverage, along with solo exhibitions and commissions. For further information, contact the artist at richard(at)rawart2.com or on the contact page here. |
Writing
- Artist CV -
- Artist Statement -
- Ark: A Poem -
"Richard Watts: Weight of the Soul" essay by John K. Grande (Canadian writer, curator and art critic)
"Letter of Support" by Mark Dion (American conceptual artist)
- Artist Statement -
- Ark: A Poem -
"Richard Watts: Weight of the Soul" essay by John K. Grande (Canadian writer, curator and art critic)
"Letter of Support" by Mark Dion (American conceptual artist)
Video
Earth Etchings and sculpture video montage
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Artist creates 'Ark' boat sculpture, and trucks it from Toronto to NYC 'Brooklyn Bridge City Park', under the Manhattan Bridge, 2007 (also see Ark page here)
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Ark: CBC Francais TV feature and artist interview with sculptor Richard Watts in New York City, 2007
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