“Everything is always very fortuitous, that’s why I believe in contingency and chance. Things happen because they happen, and they seem to be more important later. It is very interesting to look at all those art historians and how they attribute everything to a deliberate act. It’s not like that—artists aren’t like that.”

Tacita Dean

Statement

Earth breathes fire and spews boiling water from its depths, while segments of its crust drift on tectonic plates, pushing continents apart and colliding. These unpredictable movements and untamable forces challenge our perceived dominance over the land, one of the themes I explore in my work.

Rocks, to me, are time-made manifest. My practice delves into deep time, unfolding a cartography of inquiry and internal dialogue on geomorphology and my connection to land. Geology serves as my portal to a sense of belonging, reflecting my experiences of being both, uprooted and choosing to move across towns and continents. It becomes a metaphor for the anchored, buried, and unknown—the essential antidotes and attributes for displacement.

I primarily work on large-scale paintings and drawings, where I can engage in gestural sweeps, but I keep my artwork sizes varied. Constantly exploring and experimenting with materials, I allow concoctions of mediums to settle into textured surfaces, suggesting topographical and subterranean terrains. I like to allow watery mixes of acrylic or inks to find their gravity on the surface which I often encourage into shapes seen in the land forms.

From detailed drawings to expansive semi-abstract paintings, I am aiming to convey the intrigue and imagined narratives that I recall from my experience of being immersed in wild and remote places.

Geology, with its skeletal structure supporting the gaze over the landscape, forms the foundation of my subject. My work is a reflection of the mystery and beauty of the Earth's forces, inviting viewers to contemplate their own connection to the land and the deep time it represents. Through my art, I seek to evoke a sense of wonder and respect for the ever-changing, powerful forces that shape our world.

In September 2022, I spent a month at the Skaftfell Residency in Seydisfjordur, a small town on the edge of a fjord on Iceland's NE coast. My connection to Iceland deepened with a residency in 2017 at Laugarvatn and further exploration of the North Island in 2018.

A month-long residency at Cill Rialaig in Ballinskelligs, South Ireland, in 2019 introduced me to an archaeological perspective. Here, ancient stones mark ritual sites, their enigmatic purposes, and historical events stirring my imagination and inspiring my work.

Education

2013 Natural Pigments Co. study in Best painting practices.
2011 Newlyn School, Cornwall, UK; studies for practicing artists
2005 M.F.A. department of arts and consciousness, John f. Kennedy University, Berkeley, CA.
Previous Mono printing intensive, Aurobora Press S.F. CA.
Bronze casting, Sonoma State University, Cotati, CA.
Mono-type, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA.
Graphic design studies, University California, Berkeley,.
Revere Academy of Goldsmithing, San francisco, CA.
B.F.A. Metal sculpture and silversmithing. Surrey Institute of Art and Design, South West London, England
Apprentice to Jacqueline Mina, British, award winning goldsmith, Twickenham, London.
Annual Award Fellowship from Surrey Institute of Art and Design, S.W. London, England.
 

Grants/Awards

Visions Of Science, First Prize from The Edge Arts, Bath University, Bath, England.

Honourable mention, Marin MOCA, Novato Ca. Catherine Clark (Catherine Clark Gallery San Francisco, Ca.)
Sonoma Art Award for Emerging Artist. A grant from the James IrvineFoundation. Jurors; Tara McDowell,

Curatorial Associate, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Joe del Pesco, Nelson Gallery, CA.
U.C. Davis; Karen Tsujimoto, Senior Curator, Art Department, Oakland Museum, CA.
Fellowship from Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Surrey, England.
Nominee for the 2008-10 Eureka Fellowship Program, for Visual Artists, Fleishhacker Foundation.
Art for Living, Sebastopol Centre for the Arts, Sebastopol, CA. Merit award.

Bio Statement + CV
Catherine J. Richardson MFA

Bio

Catherine grew up near the Moors and Dales of northern England and attended Art College near London for her BFA.

Moving between California, Somerset, London and Austin Texas challenges her sense of belonging yet serves as a portal into the wider human experience of displacement and immigration.
Referencing history, particulars of place, time, and the relative stability of geology are her poetic layering of imagery. Her paintings juxtapose influences gleaned from being in the untamed landscapes of California, Peru, England, Ireland, France, and Iceland.
After graduating with an MFA from John F Kennedy University, Berkeley Annex, Ca., Catherine was the grantee of the Sonoma County Emerging Artist Award for her work on locale and observation of the marshland through a 1-year study.

In 2018 her work won her a First Prize award from “Visions Of Science” exhibition at Bath Edge Arts, University Of Bath, England with imagery of explorations into changing conditions in the Arctic circles.

Residencies

2022 Skaftfell AIR, N.Eastern Iceland

2019 Cill Rialaig Art Centre, SE Ireland 
2017 Gullkistan Creative Centre, Laugarvatn, Iceland
2014 Lucid Art Foundation, Inverness, CA
2011-12 Doug Adams gallery, Bade Museum, Berkeley, CA.
2003 Kala institute, Heinze St. Berkeley CA.

Solo Shows

2025 Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA. Collaboration w Brooke Holve, Feb-April

2021 (July) Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA. Collaborative installation with Brooke Holve for Extraction Art Project,

2016  Santa Rosa City Hall, Council Chambers, Santa Rosa, CA.
2015  Gro Gallery, Pt Reyes Station, CA.
2015  SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Ft Mason, San Francisco, CA.
2012  Doug Adams gallery, Bade Museum Berkeley, CA.
2011   Lucid Art Foundation, Ions Institute for Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, CA.
Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
2009 Jerry Adams Gallery, Berkeley City College, Berkeley, CA. curator Jenny Braman
2008  Herold Mehoney Library, Santa Rosa Junior College, Petaluma Campus, CA.
2007  Homeland Obscurity Float Gallery, Oakland, CA.
Agents of Dissolve, Quick silver Gallery, Forestville, CA.
2005 M.F.A. graduate show. Marsh Road Project; Arts & Consciousness Gallery, JFKU. Berkeley Annex, Berkeley CA.

Selected Group Shows

2024. Shortlisted for Woolwich Contemporary art Fair resulting in an Online exhibition.

33 Contemporary Gallery, Miami Fl. “Bodies of Water”

2023 Spring Cheltenham Gallery, Cheltenham UK

Jen Tough Gallery, Santa Fe, NM USA.

(July) The Vanner Gallery, 5-person show, Salisbury, England.

2022 Art Fair. Miami Red Dot

Represented by Jen Tough Gallery of Santa Fe, NM

Victoria Gallery, Bath Arts Society, Bath, Somerset UK.

O’Hanlon Center for Visual Art, Mill Valley CA.

2021 (July) Collaborative installation with Brooke Holve for Extraction Art Project, Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA.

Artist Alliance, On-line, Water Stories, juried.

Public Art, commissioned by Petaluma Art Centre, CA., Large poster for Earth Day.

2020 ArtistAlliance, on-line Exhibition curated by Jen Tough of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Ft Mason Centre, San Francisco, CA
Think Visual Gallery, 240 Main St., Pt Arena, CA two person show

2019 Cill Rialaig Art Centre, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry, S. Ireland

SFMOMA Artist Gallery, Ft Mason Centre, San Francisco, CA.

2018 Visions Of Science, The Edge Arts, University of Bath, England

13 Years, Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.

2017 MarinMOCA, Novato, CA. Juror, Catharine Clark of Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, CA. (honourable Mention)

Ice House Gallery, group show, Petaluma, CA.
2016 Petaluma Art Centre, "Zeitgist", a juried show.
Paul Mahder Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
2015 Gro Gallery, Pt Reyes Station, CA. (Residency Show from Lucid Art Foundation.)
2014 Ice House Gallery, Petaluma, CA.
Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA
Petaluma Arts Centre, Petaluma, CA
Gro Gallery, Pt Reyes Station, CA.
2013 Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Ft Mason, San Francisco, CA
2012 Bucca Gallery, Newlyn, Cornwall, UK
Hammerfriar, Healdsburg, Ca. Autumn group show of represented artists.
Petaluma Art Centre, Petaluma Ca. invitational.
2011 Berkeley City College, Berkeley Ca. Digital Art, 4-person show.
Thoreau Centre, (2 person show) San Francisco, CA.
Gala Show, Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
Land of Magic, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA.
2010 Rawness of Real, Dell Pryor Gallery, Detroit, MI.
Transformative Experience, Art at The Oakbook, Jack London Sq. Oakland CA.
Beyond Digital, Petaluma Center for the Arts, Petaluma CA.
Art From The Heart, Sonoma State University Art Gallery, Cotati CA.
Muse/Reuse, Doug Adams gallery, Bade` Museum, Berkeley CA.
2009 Essensual Exchanges, ArtSpace 404, Santa Rosa, CA.
Usnea, YWCA, Berkeley, CA.
Bioneers Conferrence, Marin, CA
2008 World of Concrete Convention; invited artist. Las Vegas Convention Cnt. Las Vegas NV.
2007 Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
2006 Emerging Artists Exhibit. Arts Council Gallery, Santa Rosa, CA.
Annual juried show. G.R.O. Gallery Route one, Pt. Reyes CA.
California Current, Ultra Marine. G.R.O. Gallery Route One, Pt. Reyes, CA
Arts and Consciousness Gallery, John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley, CA.
2004 Overland To Unfamiliar Territory, Hallway project, John F.Kennedy University,Berkeley, CA.
2003 Reconcilable Differences, Jersey Galleries;, Osterly Park House, London, England.

Selected Bibliography

The Walden Woods Project; A Virtual Lyceum: The Pursuit of Beauty LINK

On the panel for this discussion. RECORDING

Two-page spread artist feature in Lucid Arts Foundation book.

Curated by Fariba Bogzaran. Art residency alummni, pages 148-149

Intageserview with “Shout Out Miami” Magazine January 2023

Extraction - Art on The Edge of the Abyss.Catalogue and exhibition, pages 110-113 & 398-399

“Visions Of Science” article in November Issue of Interalia on-line Magazine

West Marin Review, volume 17, 2016
Sarah Lawrence College; Lumina, publication of Art & literature, volume xv, Spring 2016 edition.
featured paintings. East Bay Express, June issue, 2012 Dewitt Cheng.
North Bay Bohemian, CA. May 7-14 issue, 2011
East Bay Express, CA. June 30th 2010.
North Bay Bohemian, CA. November 4-10 issue 2009.
96 Hours, San Francisco Chronicle, CA. Aug 16th 2007 Stephanie Laemoa.
Artweek, November issue #9 2006. New USA Grants. Palo Alto CA.
Emerging Artists award catalogue. Sonoma Cultural Arts, CA. James Irvin Foundation.
North Bay Bohemian, CA.February, Critic?s Choice?, author, Gretchen Giles.
Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA July, Emerging Artist Awardees.

Related Experience

Teaching artist through Sonoma County Museum with 5th grade, state school students.

Volunteer at Spike Island Gallery and RWA, Bristol, England

Offers workshops on Materials and Techniques.
Hired to work on mural restoration of Coit Tower, San Francisco, CA.
Leading a workshop on "Essensual Exchange" plant dyes in collaboration with artist Sasha Duer
Three times Lecturer to student body at Berkeley City College, Berkeley CA.
Adjunct faculty, Art Dept. Santa Rosa Junior college, Santa Rosa Campus, CA.
Valley Ford Studios, Valley Ford, CA. Instruction and mentoring in metal arts.
Sebastopol Centre for the Arts, CA. Metal Arts/Jewelry instruction. Mixed level.
Arts Benicia Education Program, Benicia, CA. Beginners workshops on metal arts.
Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA. Workshop on metal arts and mono types.

Collections

The Engine Is Red, Santa Rosa, CA. & Minneapolis, MN.

Michael and Gail Faulkes, Petaluma, California

Kerwin & Associates, Menlo Park, California.
Imagery Collection belonging to Sonoma State University, Cotati, California
Hall collection, Mauii, Hawaii
Laura Chanel Goat Cheese Co. Sonoma, California.
Jill Plamann of Hammerfriar Gallery, Healdsburg, California.
Tom Lewis Restoration Co. San Francisco, California

Copland/Dreyer, Sonoma, California

Ecker & Mackie Santa Rosa, California.

Bath University, Bath England.