1923年、アメリカ・ワシントンD.C.生まれ。2013年没。20世紀後半から21世紀初頭にかけて活躍した現代美術家。コーネル大学で化学と数学を学んだ後、第二次世界大戦に従軍。その後は家具職人として活動する中で美術制作へと転向した。

1960年代より本格的に作品を発表し、家具の形態を引用した彫刻や、フォーマイカ(化粧板)などの工業素材を用いた独自の表現で注目を集める。絵画と彫刻、日用品と芸術の境界を横断する作品は、ミニマリズムやポップアートと並行しながらも独自の位置を確立した。

また、空間に配置される楕円形のモチーフ「blp(ブリップ)」シリーズでも知られ、鑑賞者の視覚や認識に問いを投げかける作品を展開。代表的な国際展にも多数参加し、世界各地の美術館で作品が収蔵されている。

現在もその革新的なアプローチは高く評価され、現代美術における重要な作家の一人とされている。

Born in 1923 in Washington, D.C., and passed away in 2013, Richard Artschwager was an American contemporary artist active from the latter half of the 20th century into the early 21st century. He studied chemistry and mathematics at Cornell University before serving in World War II. After the war, he worked as a furniture maker, which eventually led him to pursue a career in fine art.

Beginning in the 1960s, Artschwager gained recognition for his distinctive works that incorporated furniture-like forms and industrial materials such as Formica. His practice blurred the boundaries between painting and sculpture, as well as between functional objects and art, establishing a unique position alongside movements such as Minimalism and Pop Art.

He is also known for his “blp” series—oval-shaped forms installed in architectural spaces—which challenge viewers’ perception and awareness of their surroundings. Artschwager participated in numerous major international exhibitions, and his works are held in museum collections worldwide.

Today, he is regarded as a significant figure in contemporary art, celebrated for his innovative and boundary-defying approach.