René Ricard
Encyclopedia
René Ricard is an American poet
, art critic
and painter
.
Ricard grew up in Acushnet, Massachusetts
. As a young teenager he ran away to Boston
and assimilated into the literary scene of the city. By age eighteen he’d moved to New York City
, where he became a protege of Andy Warhol
. He appeared in the classic Warhol films Kitchen
(1965) and Chelsea Girls
(1966). He continued to be a frequent contributor to the Mel Lyman
-owned underground paper The Avatar
, a Boston bi-weekly that was active until 1968.
Having achieved stature in the art world by successfully launching the career of painter Julian Schnabel
, Ricard helped bring Jean-Michel Basquiat
to fame. In December 1981 he published the first major article on Basquiat, entitled "The Radiant Child," in Artforum
Andy Warhol called him "the George Sanders
of the Lower East Side, the Rex Reed
of the art world."
In 1979 the Dia Art Foundation
published Ricard's first book of poems, an eponymous volume styled on Tiffany's shopping bags. This book is featured in a photograph from Nan Goldin
's book, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1986). The same year, he published a poem titled The Death of Johnny Stompanato
. His second book of poetry, God With Revolver (Hanuman Books) was published ten years later, edited by Raymond Foye. The same year, he contributed poems to Francesco Clemente
: Sixteen Pastels (London: Anthony D'Offay).
Along with a handful of one of a kind "zines", Ricard has released two other volumes of poetry since then; Trusty Sarcophagus Co. (Inanout Press, 1990), which featured his poems painted onto found artwork, and Love Poems (C U Z Editions, 1999), a collaboration with artist Robert Hawkins, who provided drawings for the book. Trusty Sarcophagus Co. was the basis of an exhibit at the Petersburg Gallery in SoHo. In 2004, Ricard did the covers for Shadows Collide With People
by John Frusciante
The majority of Ricard's poems are now in the form of paintings. He is represented in New York City by the Vito Schnabel Gallery on West 23rd Street.
Ricard was played by Michael Wincott
in Julian Schnabel
's biopic, Basquiat (1996).
Ricard is reclusive and famously mercurial. He lives and works at the Hotel Chelsea
in New York City
.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, art critic
Art critic
An art critic is a person who specializes in evaluating art. Their written critiques, or reviews, are published in newspapers, magazines, books and on web sites...
and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
Ricard grew up in Acushnet, Massachusetts
Acushnet, Massachusetts
Acushnet is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,303 at the 2010 census.- History :Acushnet was first settled in 1659. It has been included as a part of three separate towns throughout its history. It was formerly the northeastern section of the town of...
. As a young teenager he ran away to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and assimilated into the literary scene of the city. By age eighteen he’d moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he became a protege of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
. He appeared in the classic Warhol films Kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
(1965) and Chelsea Girls
Chelsea Girls
Chelsea Girls is a 1966 experimental underground film directed by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey. The film was Warhol's first major commercial success after a long line of avant-garde art films...
(1966). He continued to be a frequent contributor to the Mel Lyman
Mel Lyman
Melvin James Lyman was an American cult leader, musician, film maker and writer.-Musician:Lyman grew up in California and Oregon...
-owned underground paper The Avatar
Avatar (underground newspaper)
Avatar was an American underground newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts in 1967-68. The newspaper's first issues were published from the headquarters of Broadside magazine in Cambridge...
, a Boston bi-weekly that was active until 1968.
Having achieved stature in the art world by successfully launching the career of painter Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
, Ricard helped bring Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...
to fame. In December 1981 he published the first major article on Basquiat, entitled "The Radiant Child," in Artforum
Artforum
Artforum is an international monthly magazine specializing in contemporary art.-Publication:The magazine is published ten times a year, September through May, along with an annual summer issue...
Andy Warhol called him "the George Sanders
George Sanders
George Sanders was a British actor.George Sanders may also refer to:*George Sanders , Victoria Cross recipient in World War I...
of the Lower East Side, the Rex Reed
Rex Reed
Rex Taylor Reed is an American film critic and former co-host of the syndicated television show At the Movies. He currently writes the column "On the Town with Rex Reed" for The New York Observer.-Life and career:...
of the art world."
In 1979 the Dia Art Foundation
Dia Art Foundation
Dia Art Foundation is a non-profit organization that initiates, supports, presents, and preserves art projects. It was established in 1974 as the Lone Star Foundation by Philippa de Menil, the daughter of Houston arts patron Dominique de Menil and an heiress to the Schlumberger oil exploration...
published Ricard's first book of poems, an eponymous volume styled on Tiffany's shopping bags. This book is featured in a photograph from Nan Goldin
Nan Goldin
Nancy "Nan" Goldin is an American photographer.-Life and work:Goldin was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in the Boston, Massachusetts suburb of Lexington, to middle class Jewish parents whose ideas, moderately liberal and progressive, were put to the test when on April 12, 1965 their eldest...
's book, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency (1986). The same year, he published a poem titled The Death of Johnny Stompanato
Johnny Stompanato
John "Johnny" Stompanato , also known as "Handsome Harry", "Johnny Stomp", "John Steele", and "Oscar", was a former United States Marine who became a bodyguard/enforcer for gangster Mickey Cohen...
. His second book of poetry, God With Revolver (Hanuman Books) was published ten years later, edited by Raymond Foye. The same year, he contributed poems to Francesco Clemente
Francesco Clemente
Francesco Clemente is an Italian and American contemporary artist. Influenced by thinkers as diverse as Gregory Bateson, William Blake, Allen Ginsberg, and J Krishnamurti, the art of Francesco Clemente is inclusive and nomadic, crossing many borders, intellectual and geographical.Dividing his time...
: Sixteen Pastels (London: Anthony D'Offay).
Along with a handful of one of a kind "zines", Ricard has released two other volumes of poetry since then; Trusty Sarcophagus Co. (Inanout Press, 1990), which featured his poems painted onto found artwork, and Love Poems (C U Z Editions, 1999), a collaboration with artist Robert Hawkins, who provided drawings for the book. Trusty Sarcophagus Co. was the basis of an exhibit at the Petersburg Gallery in SoHo. In 2004, Ricard did the covers for Shadows Collide With People
Shadows Collide with People
Shadows Collide with People is the fourth studio album by John Frusciante, released February 24, 2004. The album was written during the recording of By the Way, and is widely regarded as his most accessible work, featuring a mix of guitar-driven alternative rock, folk ballads, and electronica...
by John Frusciante
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, record and film producer. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, with whom he had been for a number of years and recorded five studio albums...
The majority of Ricard's poems are now in the form of paintings. He is represented in New York City by the Vito Schnabel Gallery on West 23rd Street.
Ricard was played by Michael Wincott
Michael Wincott
Michael Anthony Claudio Wincott is a Canadian actor.Wincott was born in Toronto, Ontario and is renown for playing villainous roles-Filmography:*Title Shot - Robber*Wild Horse Hank - Charlie Connors...
in Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel
Julian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
's biopic, Basquiat (1996).
Ricard is reclusive and famously mercurial. He lives and works at the Hotel Chelsea
Hotel Chelsea
The Hotel Chelsea, also known as the Chelsea Hotel, or simply the Chelsea, is a historic New York City hotel and landmark, known primarily for its history of notable residents...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.