Sculpture should have a sense of humor; it should make people see the ordinary in a new way.
— Richard Stankiewicz
Sculpture should have a sense of humor; it should make people see the ordinary in a new way.
— Richard Stankiewicz
Biography
Richard Stankiewicz (1922–1983) was an American sculptor celebrated for his innovative use of scrap metal and found objects. Born in Philadelphia and raised in Detroit, he trained in drafting, engineering, and art at Cass Technical High School. Though he earned a scholarship to Cranbrook Academy of Art, financial constraints led him to join the Civilian Conservation Corps and work as a craftsman.
In 1941, Stankiewicz enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a radio operator in the Aleutian Islands, where he carved his first sculptures from animal bones. While stationed in Seattle and Hawaii, he explored painting and connected with artists like Morris Graves and Mark Tobey, gaining early exposure to contemporary art circles.
After his discharge, he moved to New York in 1948 to study under Hans Hofmann and became immersed in the postwar art scene. He lived with artist Clifford Wright and formed a close association with Jean Follet. In 1950, he traveled to Paris to study at Fernand Léger’s atelier, and the following year studied sculpture with Ossip Zadkine. Upon his return to New York, he established a studio with Follet and co-founded the Hansa Gallery in 1952 with fellow Hofmann students. The gallery became a vital part of the “Tenth Street Cooperatives” movement and showcased Stankiewicz’s early terracotta and welded steel sculptures, praised for their imaginative use of everyday materials.
During the 1950s, he developed his signature technique of creating sculptures from welded scrap metal rather than plaster and wire. In 1960, he befriended Jean Tinguely, introducing him to his scrap metal dealer—a meeting that would influence both artists’ practices.
Stankiewicz’s work gained international recognition, with exhibitions held worldwide, including notable shows in France and Australia. In 1972, he joined the prestigious Zabriskie Gallery, which represented him until 2009. A major retrospective at the State University of New York in Albany in 1979 further solidified his legacy, traveling to several museums in Massachusetts and New York.
Richard Stankiewicz passed away at his home in 1983.
During the 1950s, he developed his signature technique of creating sculptures from welded scrap metal rather than plaster and wire. In 1960, he befriended Jean Tinguely, introducing him to his scrap metal dealer—a meeting that would influence both artists’ practices.
Stankiewicz’s work gained international recognition, with exhibitions held worldwide, including notable shows in France and Australia. In 1972, he joined the prestigious Zabriskie Gallery, which represented him until 2009. A major retrospective at the State University of New York in Albany in 1979 further solidified his legacy, traveling to several museums in Massachusetts and New York.
Richard Stankiewicz passed away at his home in 1983.
