| Richard Iams was born
in 1950 in West Virginia, near the borders of Ohio and
Pennsylvania, an area of mines, steel mills, and chemical
companies. His parents worked in a toy factory. Iams attended
Marietta College in southeastern Ohio, intending to major in
mathematics, until he was exposed to his first art class as a
sophomore. Initially, he considered it just another avenue to
explore, but exposure to the works of artists such as John Singer
Sargent, Sidney Laurence, and Richard Schmid brought forth the
desire to learn and master the fundamental disciplines of fine
art. He graduated in 1972 with degrees in art and education.
While teaching junior high and community college art courses
for five years, Iams wanted to have more time to paint. He moved
to Texas where he committed himself to painting full-time.
Although trained as a portrait painter he began using oils and
painting Texas landscapes that launched his name into the art
world. In 1979 Iams moved to Tucson, Arizona where his wife was
offered a teaching position at The University of Arizona. It was
here that Iams became known as a Master Painter of the Grand
Canyon.
Because he was trained in, and continues to study, the
techniques of fine art Iams has avoided the trap of becoming a
formula painter, thus he is not limited by subject matter. Using
watercolor sketches, pencil drawings, photos and written notes,
Iams and his wife travel from Alaska to Africa gathering as much
painting subject material as possible. It was while traveling in
Africa that Iams started painting wildlife which now has been
added to his portfolio of work. Recently, by request, Iams has
ventured into still life works. Today Iams home and studio east of
Tucson offer him views of the four mountain ranges surrounding the
Tucson Valley.
EDUCATION:
1975 MA in Studio Arts, Marshall University, Huntington, WV
1972 BA in Art Education, Marietta College, Marietta, OH
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2002 (In June) "The Art of Richard Iams" Greenhouse Gallery,
TX
1999 "Iams' World", Jackson-Kirkland Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM
1998 "Well Traveled", Jackson-Kirkland Fine Arts, Santa Fe, NM
1997 "The Art of Richard Iams", Jackson-Kirkland Fine Arts,
Santa Fe, NM
1996 "Open Studio Show" Tucson, AZ
1995 "Open House for Iams", Sanders Galleries, Tucson, AZ
1995 "Dinner 'a la' Art with Iams", Tucson Museum of Art,
Tucson, AZ
1991 "The Art of Richard Iams - A Retrospective", Parkersburg
Art Center, Parkersburg, WV
1990 "An Evening with Richard Iams", Venture Fine Arts, Tucson
AZ
1988 "Visit to Kenya", Sanders Galleries, Tucson, AZ
1979 "Introducing Richard Iams", Stewart Gallery, Dallas TX
GROUP EXHIBITS:
American Miniature Exhibit, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
American Realism Competition, Parkersburg, WV,
Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington VT.
Best of Scottsdale, Scottsdale Gallery Association, AZ
C.M. Russell Museum Artist Invitational, Great Falls, MT
KLH Fine Art Competition, Bennington, VT
International Masters of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
Mountain Oyster Club's Contemporary Western Art Show, Tucson,
AZ
National Finals Art Auction, Las Vegas, NV
Oil Painters of America Regional Show, Scottsdale, AZ
Peppertree Ranch Art Show, Santa Ynez, CA
Phippen Museum of Western Art, Prescott, AZ
Relocation Celebration, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Saratoga Invitational, Blackhawk Galleries, Saratoga, WY
Western Art Invitational Show, Venture Fine Arts, Tucson, AZ
HONORS:
2001 International Masters of Fine Art Invitation
1998 Master Art Judge, American Realism Competition
1991 West Virginia Art and Humanities Council Award for
Outstanding Artist.
1988 Best of Show, American Realism Competition
1984 Artist of the Year, Mountain Oyster Club, Tucson, AZ
CORPORATE & MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
Alamito Corporation, LA
American Express Corporation, NY
American Funding Group, CO
Arizona Bank, AZ
Bank of America, CA
Deloitte, Haskins, & Sells, NV
Harris Trust Bank of Arizona
Iams Pet Food Corporation, AZ
Michelin of France, France
Parkersburg Art Center, WV
Phippen Museum, AZ
Qatar National Bank, Qatar
Raymond James Financial, Inc, FL
Rodeway Inns International, TX
Santa Fean Magazine, NM
Sears Financial Corporation, IL
Shadid & Schaud Office, L.L.C., OK
Texas Instruments Corporation, TX
T.G.I.F Corporation, TX
University of Arizona, Tucson
Wells Fargo Bank
Westin Hotels International
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Ware, T. (2001), "Richard Iams", Santa Fean. NM
Grant, D. (2000), Open-Studio Events: What to Expect and What
to do. American Artist
Hallsten-McGarry, S. (1999), "Animals Ascendant", Cowboys &
Indians, Santa Fe, NM
Berney, C. (1999) "Richard Iams", Cowboys & Indians, Santa Fe,
NM
Escamilla, R. (1999), "Richard Iams", Santa Fean, NM
Kinsey, J.L. (1998), The Majesty of the Grand Canyon: 150
Years of Art. Chameleon Books, Inc. MA
Stavig, V. (1997), "The Studio", Art of the West, MN
Nystedt, K. (1995), "Creating Another Reality", Desert Leaf,
AZ
Behrens, S. (1993), "Richard Iams, Instilling A Greater
Truth", Art of the West, MN
Boyle, M. (1990), "Re-visiting Richard Iams", Arizona
Illustrated, PBS/KUAT,
Stavig, V. (1990), "Isn't It Grand - Artists of the Grand
Canyon" Art of the West, MN
Bennett, G. (1990), "Richard Iams", Arizona Highways, AZ
Beach, J.D. (1989), "Richard Iams", Southwest Art, TX
Boyle, M. (1987), "Richard Iams - Artist", Arizona
Illustrated, PBS/KUAT Channel 6, (Video), AZ
Beach, J.D. (1987), "Brushing Up On Richard Iams", Tucson
Magazine, AZ
Fundling, L.A. (1983) "Arizona Skies Keep Local Artist's Head
in the Clouds", The Weekly Territorial, AZ
Amend, G. "Richard Iams, Master of Southwestern Landscape",
Omni Art Review,
|
|
|
