Artist Statement
It all began in a public library where I discovered fiction was make-believe. Not true? Completely fabricated? I became an adept picture reader at a young age. I could fabricate a wild story by reading pictures, not text. After a while, a reading comprehension problem was exposed, and remedial coursework was required.
On the first day of seventh grade, my history instructor handed me a peculiar illustrated American History textbook. As I flipped through its pages, I discovered that students from a prior year had thoroughly defaced the illustrations. It was a rebellious act, a breaking of the rules, and I couldn’t help but feel the thrill of it. I spent my time extending the art, adding new characters, buildings, and backgrounds, and editing a world with many contributors. And when I was disciplined and issued a clean textbook, it only added to the thrill.
Over the last 50 years, I have used a stare decisis method [Latin for based-on-precedent] to create artwork, much like the defaced textbook of my formative years. My creative toolbox utilizes a fabricated narrative, a string of incongruous themes, public domain artwork, and a reappearing unknown shape, the Incognitum. The point of view is deliberately obfuscated. The resulting images and texts are familiar yet dreamlike, offering an unusual and thought-provoking interpretation of history.
Richard Deon, August 2024
Above, the Quick Response Squadron in the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY. The Quick Response Squadron was first presented in the Foreman Gallery at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, September 2011
Printing Lincoln’s Campaign with BIG INK at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, NH. Click the photo to see an Instagram video clip.
Public Art
Creative Stations
Metropolitan Transit Authority, New York City, NY
Exhibition Center Program
New York Metropolitan Transit Authority, New York City, NY
City Signs
Public Art Fund/New York City Department of Transportation, Long Island City, NY
Hike New York: Long Island City. Sign available for purchase.
Walk West Palm
Public Art Fund/Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL
Writ Large
SGC International, Sam Fox School, Washington University, and Good Citizens Gallery, St. Louis, MO
Places That Matter
The Urban Center, New York City
Reflective Sign (for any missing No Littering signpost), 2012, vinyl on aluminum.
The No Littering Sign Replacement Program began in 2015. In 2017, the first bare pole was discovered at the NY Route 22 Boston Corners Parking Area. The replacement sign remained installed for over a year before it was removed.
Millstone Manor
In 2020, I began hosting a rental home—Millstone Manor—where I could curate and display paintings, prints, and maps from my collection.
2024 Solo Exhibitions: A Folio of Eight Large-Scale Woodblock Prints and The History of the INCOGNITUM by Richard Deon.
MAJOR SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015
Paradox and Conformity: Paintings, Prints & Planes by Richard Deon
Rosemary Duffy Larson Gallery, Broward College, Davie, FL
2011
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
The Arts Center of the Capital Region, Troy, NY
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
Foreman Gallery, Hartwick College. Oneonta, NY
2010
Paradox and Conformity: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY
2009
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO
2008
Paradox and Conformity for 20 Years: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
Roland Gibson Gallery, State University of New York at Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Lincoln’s Campaign to Defeat the Hudson River School
Millbrook Library Art Gallery, Millbrook, NY
2016
Peace Deal: Paradox and Conformity
University Art Gallery, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL
Meet Akio of the Quick Response Squadron
BAU:Gallery, Beacon Room, Beacon, NY
2014
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY
2013
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
Moberly Community College. Moberly, MO
2012
Richard Deon: Paradox and Conformity
University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT
2010
Paradox and Conformity: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
Olin Art Gallery, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, PA
2009
Stare Decisis: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY
Paradox and Conformity: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
The Azarian McCullough Art Gallery, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY
2007
Richard Deon: Selections from Part Unrelated
New York Public Library, Donnell Library Center, New York City
Paradox and Conformity: The Paintings of Richard Deon
Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY
2005
Richard Deon, Recent Work
James Palmer Gallery at College Center, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
2003
Richard Deon: Paintings in Paintings
Barrett Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
2001
Richard Deon, Visiting Artist
Usdan Upstairs Gallery, Bennington College, Bennington, VT
1996
Social Surrealism: Paintings by Richard Deon
Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY
1995
Science Pictures
Donskoj & Co., Kingston, NY
1991
Chevron Chorus: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
Chevron Chorus: Paintings and Prints by Richard Deon
The Gallery at Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Five Points Arts Print Festival featuring BIG INK Five Points Art Center, Torrington, CT
2022
The Daum at 20: Selections from the Collection Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO
2019
Unseen
Collarworks, Troy, NY
Artists of the Mohawk Hudson Region
The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY (catalog)
Exlibro: All About Books
Arts Mid-Hudson Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
2018
A House Divided
The Rouse Company Gallery at the Horowitz Center, Howard Community College, Columbia, MD
2017
Alien Nations: Artists Take Aim at Troubled Times
Lehman College Art Gallery, Bronx NY (catalog)
2014
Experiences of War: an Artist View
Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
Beacon Street Banners
Beacon, NY
2012
American Dreamers: Facing or Escaping Reality in Contemporary Art
CCC Strozzina, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence, Italy. (catalog)
2009
Debut: New to the Collection
Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO
What’s the Story?
Hudson Beach Glass, Beacon, NY.
2008
Seven: Out of this World
Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY (catalog)
2007
SiteLines: Hudson Valley Invitational
Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, NY
The Uncanny Valley
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY
Lineal Investigations
Housatonic Museum of Art, Bridgeport, CT.
colLABorations
The LAB Gallery, Roger Smith Hotel, New York City
Fear Is a Four Letter Word
Being Fearless Conference, New York City
Beyond Self
Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery, State University of New York, Ulster, NY.
New Hudson 3
Van Brunt Gallery, Beacon, NY
Failure: Contemporary Art about Weakness, Deficiency, Incompetence, Error, Loss, Breakdown, Disintegration, Extinction, and Other Related Signs of Life
Kent Place Gallery, Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
2006
Storefront Artists Project: The First Five Years
Gallery 51, North Adams, MA
Got Cow? Cattle in American Art, 1820-2000
Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY
YEA! Young Emerging Artists
Arts Exchange, White Plains, NY
2005
T-Zone
Smack Mellon, Brooklyn, NY
The Cultural Corridor
The Storefront Artists Project, Pittsfield, MA
2004
Parts Unrelated: Richard Deon and Nancy Donskoj
Donskoj & Co., Kingston, NY
2002
Hudson Valley Artists 2002
Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, New Paltz, NY
2001
American Sandwich
Star 67, Brooklyn, NY
1996
In This Time and Place
Art Gallery, State University of New York at New Paltz
1995
All-in-a-Piece
Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY
1994-7
7th National Computer Invitational Exhibition
Gallery of Art, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA
1992-4
5th National Computer Invitational Exhibition
Gallery of Art, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA
1993
New York Digital Salon
Art Directors Club, New York City, NY
1992
Angry Love
Art Festival of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA (catalog)
Selections from Angry Love
Space One Eleven, Birmingham, AL
1991
Hudson Valley Artists ‘91
Myth, Spirituality and Culture,” Art Gallery, State University of New York at New Paltz