Richard Hawkins is a contemporary artist known for his provocative and eclectic art practice, which spans painting, collage, and sculpture and explores themes of desire, identity, and the intersections of art history with popular culture.
Richard Hawkins was born in Mexia, Texas, in 1961. He studied at the University of Texas, Austin, earning a BFA, before moving to Los Angeles to complete an MFA at the California Institute of the Arts. Hawkins has lived and worked in Los Angeles for much of his career, and the city's diverse cultural landscape has informed his approach to contemporary art. His early experiences in Texas and later immersion in the Los Angeles art scene have shaped his unique perspective, blending regional influences with global art currents.
Richard Hawkins' artworks are characterised by their bold combination of art historical references, pop culture imagery, and subcultural erotica. His approach to making artwork is rooted in collage, both literally and conceptually, as he layers visual and thematic elements to challenge conventions in contemporary art.
In the 1990s, Hawkins gained recognition for collages that juxtaposed images from fashion magazines, classical sculpture, and homoerotic material. These works established his signature style-disruptive, seductive, and intellectually layered.
In the 2000s, Hawkins expanded his practice to include sculpture and installation. Notable projects include his series of haunted house models, which explore American folklore and psychological states, and his 'Asian Sex Tourism' paintings, which critically examine the politics of desire and representation.
Hawkins' recent works continue to interrogate the boundaries between high and low culture, often referencing outsider art, queer history, and the canon of Western painting. His practice remains influential for its fearless engagement with taboo subjects and its inventive use of materials.
Richard Hawkins has been the subject of both solo exhibitions and group exhibitions at important institutions. A selection of institutions where he has shown his work is listed below.
Hawkins' artworks can be found in the collections of major institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Hammer Museum (Los Angeles), Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles), The Museum of Modern Art (New York), Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), Tate (London), and Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). His works are also regularly exhibited at Greene Naftali in New York and Reena Spaulings in Los Angeles.
Hawkins' art explores themes of desire, identity, the intersection of art history with pop culture, and the politics of representation, often through collage and assemblage.
Hawkins is recognised for challenging hierarchies between high and low culture, as well as for his innovative use of collage and his exploration of queer identity in art.
Yes, Hawkins played a key role in reviving interest in the work of artist Tony Greene, co-curating an exhibition included in the 2014 Whitney Biennial.
Hawkins' art is distinguished by its fearless engagement with taboo subjects, inventive material use, and the blending of art historical and pop cultural references.
Ocula | 2025
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