Date of Birth: November 2, 1938
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Biography
Richard Serra is a renowned American sculptor known for his large-scale, site-specific steel sculptures. Born in San Francisco, California, Serra has established himself as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, particularly in the genre of minimalist sculpture. He studied English literature at the University of California, Berkeley, and later transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961. Following this, Serra attended Yale University, where he received both his BFA and MFA in 1964. Serra’s early work was influenced by his time spent working in steel mills to support his education, which profoundly impacted his understanding of industrial materials and processes. His sculptures often explore the relationship between the viewer, the work, and the surrounding space. Some of his most iconic works include “Tilted Arc” (1981), a controversial public sculpture that was removed in 1989, and “The Matter of Time” (2005), a series of eight sculptures permanently installed at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Throughout his career, Serra has received numerous awards and honors, including the Praemium Imperiale for Sculpture in 1994 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Contemporary Sculpture by the International Sculpture Center in 2001. His work is held in major collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
5 Interesting Facts about Richard Serra
1. Richard Serra worked in steel mills to finance his education, which deeply influenced his artistic materials and techniques.
2. His sculpture “Tilted Arc” became a subject of heated public controversy and was ultimately removed from Federal Plaza in New York City in 1989.
3. Serra’s work “The Matter of Time” consists of eight monumental pieces and is permanently housed at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
4. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in 2015.
5. Serra’s work often requires complex engineering and installation processes due to the massive scale and weight of the materials he uses.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Richard Serra
1. “I think different people have different ideas about what art is.”
2. “Work comes out of work.”
3. “Art is not democratic. It is not for the people.”
4. “The experience of standing up to the work, the experience of moving around it and through it, is as important as the work itself.”
5. “I consider space to be the primary material.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Richard Serra’s highest net worth is estimated to be around $30 million.
Children
Richard Serra has two children with his wife, Clara Weyergraf-Serra, whom he married in 1981. Their names are not publicly disclosed.
Relevant Links
2. [Richard Serra – MoMA](https://www.moma.org/artists/5363
3. [Richard Serra – Tate Modern](https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/richard-serra-1910
5. [Richard Serra receives National Medal of Arts](https://www.arts.gov/honors/medals/richard-serra
