Ric Conn
Artists’ Statement
Picasso said that art is not to adorn walls, it is a weapon—I follow his mantra. I am using my work as a weapon.
My work comes from inside my mind, my emotions and feelings, and my concerns about myself and society at large that I am experiencing. I want to bring to the surface realities for my viewers to consider and to which they can relate.
ricconn
Fine Artist
Labryinth
36x24, mixed media
gone but not forgotten
Nativity
36x24, mixed media
My work is concerned not with objective reality but rather the emotionsobjects and events arouse within a person, reactions—positive or negative—especially the understanding of the self within the viewer. I deal with relevant social issues, equality, empowerment and psychological conditions. Distortion, exaggeration, and fantasythe filters through which I paint the modern world.
I believe in equality and I want my work to reflect that. My work is different—it is not conventional, academic, or even the new modernism. I am creating a new avant-garde.I am an internationally known award winning expressionist artist; inspired mostly by Toulouse-Lautrec, Edvard Munch, Picasso, Matisse and the German Expressionists.
Closing Time
36x24, mixed media
Latest Project
Coming of Age
40x30, mixed media
Longing
36x24, mixed media
36x24, mixed media
Oil and Mixed Media paintings
studio
Studio Shots
Bio
Ric is a New York based international award winning expressionist artist; creating paintings that reflect relevant social issues.
Ric has had many solo and group shows in Baltimore, Columbia, Annapolis, Frederick, Stevensville, and Centreville MD; Washington, D.C.; Manhattan and Chelsea, New York City, and Milan Italy.
He has been featured in articles in several newspapers, and magazines in the United States and Europe, including “Art Tour International Magazine,” "Art in America's issue on galleries and artists in America, Toscana Cultura Magazine in Italy and interviewed on podcasts, on television, both local and network.
Ric has been named "Master of Contemporary Art 2020, 2022, 2023," “Artist of the Decade 2010-2020,” and “Artivist (artist/activist) of the year 2019 and 2020 and Emerald Artivist 2021and 2022” by Art Tour International Magazine. Additionally he has been in their summer, autumn and winter issues (front and back cover artist), and in American Art Collector. He was awarded the Artist of the Future, Power of Creativity and Collector’s Vision International Art Awards by Contemporary Art Curator magazine. Ric has also been inducted into Who’s Who in America; being awarded their Humanitarian Award .
He recently won the Leonardo Da Vinci International art award; the Caravaggio International Art Award, the Olympic Art Award, the Best Modern and Contemporary Art Award and the International Prize for Artistic Value, and Man of the Year.
He has paintings in private collections throughout the United States and Australia.
Solo and Group Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Open Studio
Amsterdam Whitney International Art Gallery
Amsterdam Whitney International Art Gallery
Exhibition, Grimandi Fine Art Gallery
Exhibition, Grimandi Fine Art Gallery
Exhibition, Grimandi Fine Art Gallery
Exhibition, Grimandi Fine Art Gallery
Solo Exhibition, Grimandi Fine Art Gallery
Cannes Film Festival, 2023
Auction
Exhibition, Crossroads Center
Spectrum Art Fair
Strokes of Genius Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art 2019
Sheroes—Celebration of Women Exhibition, Viviana Puello Fine Art Gallery,
New York, 2019
Roots Exhibition, Featured Artist, Viviana Puello Fine Art Gallery, 2019
David Jones Gallery Group Show, Kansas City Missouri, 2019
Group Show Amsterdam Whitney Fine Art Gallery, New York 2017, 2018, 2019
Artfest; Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts; April 2017
Artfest; Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts; April 2016
Animals Wild and Domestic art show, Queen Anne’s County Arts Council; 2016
Instructor Showcase, Queen Anne’s County Arts Council; 2016
The Human Form; Kent Island Federation of Art; February 2016
Chestertown Wildlife Festival, 2010
Members Best Exhibit, Queen Anne’s Arts Council; 2010
Solo show; Maryland Federation of Art; 2010
Fall Members Juried Show, Maryland Federation Of Art; Fall 2010
Solo show; Kent Island Federation of Art; 2010
Spring Members Juried Show, Maryland Federation Of Art; Spring 2010
Artists’ Melange; Maryland Federation of Art; 2010
Open Judged Show; Kent Island Federation of Art; 2010
Exhibitions (cont’d)
Queen Anne’s County Arts Council, 2009
Venus and Mars—2 person show; Kent Island Federation of Art; 2009
Members’ Exhibition; Academy Art Museum; 2009
2nd Anniversary Exhibition; Towson Arts Collective; 2009
Spirit of the Chesapeake; Kent Island Federation of Art; 2009
Chesapeake College Art Show; 2009
Member Showcase; Maryland Federation of Art; 2009
Baltimore’s Fashion Week; 2008
Member Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2008
The Fine Art of Food Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2008
Member Show, Academy Art Museum; 2008
Faces and Figures Show, Towson Arts Collective; 2008
Lottery Show, Maryland Federation Of Art; 2008
Winter Challenge Art Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2008
Member Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2007
Fall Members Juried Show, Maryland Federation Of Art; November 2007
Fall Challenge Art Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2007
Members Best Exhibit, Queen Anne’s Arts Council; 2007
Chesapeake College Art Show; 2007
Rock the Dock Festival; 2007
Wine, Cheese and Art event; 2007
Member Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2007
Member Show, Academy Art Museum; 2007
Goldman & Minton Law Offices; 2007
Members Best Exhibit, Queen Anne’s Arts Council; 2006
Member Show, Academy Art Museum; 2006
Bay Country Festival; 2006
Member Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; 2006
One Man Show, Kent Island Federation of Art; April 2005
Maryland Federation of Art Wall to Wall show; 2005
Maryland Federation of Art Member show; 2005
Members Best Exhibit, Queen Anne’s Arts Council; 2004
SoWeBo Art Festival; 2004
Healing Path Art Event; 2004
Maryland Federation of Art Member show; 2004
Bowie Arts Expo; 2002
Two Man Show, Timonium; 2002
Kensington Art Fair; 2002
Bowie Arts Expo; 2001
Kensington Art Fair; 2001
Bowie Arts Expo; 2000
Contributing Artist, Historical Calendar; Southern Maryland Historical Society; 2000
Appearances
Birds of Prey Talk ; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; August May 1, 2014
Avian Anatomy Talk and Drawing demonstration; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; May 2012
Portrait Drawing Demonstration; Kent Island Federation of Art; February 2011
Avian Anatomy Talk and Demonstration, Chestertown Wildlife Festival, 2010
Judge, Recycled Art Show; Kent Island Federation of Art; April 2010
Judge, Artisans Festival—all categories; Centreville, MD; October 3, 2009
Avian Anatomy Talk and Drawing demonstration; Kent Island Federation of Art; July 2009
Avian Anatomy Talk and Drawing demonstration; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; July 2009
Portrait Drawing Demonstration; Kent Island Federation of Art; February 2009
Judge, Student Art Exhibit, Prince George’s County; 1997
Education
Wildlife Painting Workshop; Matthew Hillier, instructor; Academy Art Museum; 2005
Maryland Institute College of Art; 2004
Corcoran College of Art; 2000—2003
Studied drawing; Anne Arundel Community College—2000
Degree in Media Technology; Anne Arundel Community College
(primary fields of interest were drawing and painting) 73—75
Classes
Private and Group Lessons in Painting / Gouache/Acrylic; My studio, current
Honors and Awards
Inducted into Who’s Who in America
Humanitarian Award, Who’s Who
Manof the Year
Top 100 Business Men
Artist of the Decade, 2010-2020, Art Tour International Magazine
Artivist of the Year, 2019, Art Tour International Magazine
Top 60 Master of Contemporary Art, 2020, 022, 2023, 2024
Best Artist in Stevensville award 2019
Award of Merit—Queen Anne’s Country Arts Council Open Show; 2016
Honorable Mention—Gouache, Queen Anne’s County Arts Council, 2014
First Place—Oil; Kent Island Federation of Art; Open Show 2012
Third Place—Oil; Kent Island Federation of Art; Member Show 2011
Honorable Mention—Gouache; Members’ Winter Juried Show; Maryland Federation of Art, 2011
Best in Show—Oil; Kent Island Federation of Art; Open Show 2010
Award of Merit—Oil; Maryland Federation of Art; Juried Member Show 2009
Honorable Mention—Gouache; The Human Form; Kent Island
Federation of Art, 2009
Honorable Mention—Gouache; The Fine Art of Food;
Kent Island Federation of Art, 2008
Second Place—Oil/Acrylic; Chesapeake College Art Show; 2007
Second Place—Oil/Acrylic; Kent Island Federation of Art; Members Show 2006
Honorable Mention— Mixed Media; Kent Island Federation of Art; Members
Show 2006
Face of Queen Anne’s County Medal—Kent Island Federation of Art; Members
Show 2006
Interviews and Publications
Art Tour International
Arts 4 You video interview, Art Tour International, Manhattan Neighborhood TV.
Delmarva Almanac Video Interview:
http://delmarva-almanac.com/index.php/content/article/ric_conn/
Voices and Visions
Tidewater Trader
The Artists Book
Interview; Prince George’s County cable television channel; October 2002
Interview; Prince George’s County cable television channel; October 2001
Bowie Blade; October 3, 2002
Videos
It all begins with you
Make it Original
.
Bibliography
Art Tour International Magazine, summer 2019 issue.
Art Tour International Magazine, fall 2019 issue, back cover artist.
Art Tour International Magazine, winter 2019 issue.
Art Tour International Magazine, Artist of the Decade special issue. 2020
Maryland Federation of Art, Blog, June 16, 2014
The Sunday Star; June 8, 2014
The Bay Times; June 4, 2014
The Sunday Star; May 11, 2014
Maryland Federation of Art, Newsletter, April 30, 2014
Maryland Federation of Art, Newsletter, February 19, 2014
Bay Times; May 2012
Bay Times; February 2011
Maryland Federation of Art, Newsletter January 2011
Maryland Federation of Art, Newsletter December 2010
Bay Times; December 2010
Frederick News Post, December 20, 2010
Open PR, December 2010
NY Art Beat, December 2010
Artinfo, December 2010
Ariki Art, December 2010
Art Boomer, December 2010
Art Calender, December 2010
Art Forum, December 2010
Art Limited, December 2010
Art Log, December 2010
Art Looker, December 2010
Art Perk, December 2010
Art Pickle, December 2010
Art Review, December 2010
Art Slant, December 2010
Arts Cad, December 2010
Anoounces, December 2010
Annual Event Post, December 2010
Broadway World, December 2010
Candlewood Suites, December 2010
Citi Tour, December 2010
City Events Calendar, December 2010
Club Free Time, December 2010
Craft Lister, December 2010
Culture Mob, December 2010
East Rutherford Travel, December 2010
Event Brite, December 2010
Event Guide, December 2010
Event Setter, December 2010
Eventful, December 2010
Eworld Events, December 2010
Gallery Dog, December 2010
Gallery Direct, December 2010
Galleries-Online, December 2010
Going, December 2010
Greenwich Time, December 2010
Guest of a Guest, December 2010
Kulone, December 2010
Little Views, December 2010
MN Artists, December 2010
Bibliography continued
NBC New York, December 2010
New Canaan News, December 2010
New York Visitors Network, December 2010
Noo Experiences, December 2010
NY Daily News, December 2010
NYC.com, December 2010
NYCing, December 2010
NYC Inv, December 2010
NY Povo, December 2010
Qype, December 2010
Social Web, December 2010
Spraci, December 2010
Stamford Advocate, December 2010
The Blogs World, December 2010
The Village Voice, December 2010
Upcoming, December 2010
Westport News, December 2010
WG Impressionists, December 2010
Yelp, December 2010
Facebook, December 2010
Agora Art Blog, December 2010
Zvents, December 2010
123 SoHo, December 2010
Bay Times; December 2010
Queen Anne’s County Arts Council Website Featured Artist, December 2010
Bay Times; May 2010
The Star Democrat; May 2010
Queen Anne’s County Calendar of Events—2010
The Sunday Capital, February 2009
Bay Times; August 2008
Whats Up? Eastern Shore; August 2007
Queen Anne’s County Arts Council; Newsletter; Fall 2007
Mid-Shore Entertainment Guide; August 2007
Featured Artist; Queen Anne’s County Arts Council website; 2007
Featured Artist; Goldman & Minton Website Gallery; 2007
Interview, WBAL TV news; December 2005
Record Observer; April 2005
Attraction Magazine; April 2005
Bay Times; March 2005
Members’ Best Brochure, Post Card; Queen Anne’s County Arts Council; April 2004
Queen Anne’s County Events and Festivals Guide; 2005
Art Beat; Kent Island Federation of Art; April 2005
The Carriage House; gallery and online, SoWeBo Arts Festival; May 2004
Gallery Representation
Amsterdam Whitney International Art Gallery, New York, NewYork
M.A.D.S. Art Gallery, Milan, Italy and
Barcelona Spain
Circle Foundation for the Arts