Trained as a painter and employed as an illustrator in New York City for the first 20 years of his adult life, MacDonald began sculpting at age 42. “I work only with live models, and my primary fascination has to do with what I call ‘the human theater,’ which encompasses quite a bit,” MacDonald says with a laugh. MacDonald is most renowned for his studies of athletes in motion, having crafted monuments for the U.S. Open and the 1996 Olympic Games.
He also has celebrated pieces capturing movements of dancers, acrobats and figures of Greek mythology, as well as busts and nudes of both male and female subjects. MacDonald’s most recent works include pieces from all of the aforementioned categories. “I usually work on 20-30 or more pieces at a time,” he reveals. “That allows me to do quality work without considerations over finance. I can move from one subject to the other and rejuvenate my enthusiasm each time.” His much-heralded book, Sculpture: Richard MacDonald, is a delightful gathering of some of the artist’s most remarkable creations.
For more information about the artist, visit www.richardmacdonald.com