Pierre Riche’s artistic journey has been anything but dull.
Born in New York City in 1966, Riche has lived in nine different U.S. states, moving more than 14 times and exploring various pathways.
He studied at the School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago, lived in an artist colony on Cape Cod, and has shown his art all over the U.S. and as far away as Madrid, Spain.
He now works out of a small studio inside a shipping container off of Lakeview Road in Watsonville.
“It’s a little bit ramshackle and rough here, but it works,” he said. “I hear a lot of younger artists saying, ‘How can I get started?’ and ‘I can’t do it here!’ But listen, when I was a kid, my bed was my easel. You’ve got to use what you’ve got.”
Riche discovered metal sculpture 30 years ago. He’d been looking for ways to sculpt the human form, which was his biggest inspiration.
“I thought, but what medium? Glass and bronze were too expensive,” he said. “Ceramic needed too much equipment. The decision to do metal was between cost and longevity … it’s cheap, and durable. I had a small welder and a bunch of scrap metal … so I just started working.”
Riche fabricates from all kinds of metal, much of it found or donated. For a long time, he was mostly using regular sheets of metal. Then he discovered a new material: bicycle sprockets.
“I started using sprockets when I was short on other kinds of metal,” he said. “That’s when things turned more elaborate.”
Riche’s pieces have been included in a number of shows and collections across the country, from Los Angeles to New York. But he also works locally in Santa Cruz County, installing sculptures at Sierra Azul’s annual “Sculpture Is” exhibit with Pajaro Valley Arts a number of times. He is looking to show his work at the Fairgrounds’ many horse events that happen throughout the year.
Currently, Riche is working on a large butterfly sculpture that was commissioned by a resident in Aptos. When completed, the sculpture will be placed in the person’s front yard on Trout Gulch Roar and will be easily viewed from the street.
Riche confirmed that the homeowner is fine with people swinging by to view the piece.
Riche was also commissioned for a project in Scotts Valley—a new business complex now features a series of galvanized tube sculptures that line the walkway near the new Starbucks on Mount Hermon Road.
Riche said that creating more public art is one of his main goals. In 2019 he celebrated his first public art placement in Reno, Nevada at Bicentennial Park.
“It’s not easy,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into it … But I’m actively applying. I’m looking into national opportunities, much bigger spaces.”
Being an artist, in general, is not a simple path, he admitted.
“It’s difficult managing everything,” he said. “Crafting, marketing, developing your message and bringing it forward in a way that works for you, whether it be a gallery, museum, or public places. It’s a process.”
So what keeps Riche inspired to keep working?
Determination, he said, and his faith.
“I’m very driven,” he said. “It’s in my blood. This world just doesn’t offer enough for me. And my spirituality … It’s given me great hope, strength, inspiration and purpose to do what I do.”
For information about Riche’s work, to set up a commission or donate materials visit pierrericheart.com.
