1946-Present
Works in the Collection
Biography
Richard Watson was born in 1946 in North Carolina and has established himself as one of the core group of dedicated artists, activists, curators and educators in the Philadelphia art scene. He has been a key staff member and Curator of Exhibits at the African American Museum in Philadelphia for over four decades during which time he has been an advocate and stalwart supporter of the Philadelphia artist community. Watson is known to create distinctive bodies of work, series that investigate varying aspects of expression. Whether watercolors, agrarian centered imagery or abstractions, Watson puts the full force of his passion and interest in existing in this world, into sharp and emotionally meaningful focus.
When not creating art, Watson can be found leading workshops in schools, encouraging and mentoring younger artists. He regularly serves as a guest critic and adjunct instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and participates in a variety of professional arts panels, juries, and advisory boards. Watson’s work can be found in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Brandywine Graphic Workshop, LaSalle University Museum, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, and The Federal Reserve Bank Collection in Philadelphia.