Richard Sele

Artist Statement

"I want people to remember how they felt when they viewed my artwork. If you do not feel some level of emotion then I failed as an artist. Much of my work captures the impacts of famine, genocide, war, and human rights. Some depict the most respected humanitarians and former leaders in the world. My work of icons in music, literature, movies, and sports brings smiles and happy memories to people. My wildlife pieces focus mainly on endangered animals to raise awareness, the tiger in particular. I am driven by the belief that I must use this gift to raise awareness of a crisis issue or show recognition of someone's achievements. I am not afraid to bring attention to a humanitarian horror by doing a piece that 'throws that issue in your face.'"

Biography

Rich Sele is a retired Army veteran, a self-taught artist, and works mainly in scratchboard. His work has appeared in art shows in Virginia, California, New York, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Florida. Rich presented his work in a solo show at the historic Malco Theater in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was jury-selected as one of the fifteen Emerging Artists in Tampa and featured with others at the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in 2022. He showed his work at Opus 2023 and 2024 and earned recognition for the most technical artwork with the piece, An Old Tired Eye.

Rich has battled severe depression for years and says he seems to get lost in the artwork while working on a piece. Scratchboard has become his self-healing and meditative tool.

Exhibition History (CV)