Richard Hunt (Finding Aid)

Richard Hunt

1935 -

Favorite Color: Black

Favorite Food: Okra

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: His studio

Interview Length: 148 minutes

Interview Date(s): January 15, 2001

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, Chicago, IL

Abstract

Richard Hunt briefly describes his mother's and father's background and how they came to Chicago. Hunt briefly describes his childhood neighborhoods and working at his father's barbershop. He discusses moving from Chicago to rural Illinois as a child and briefly contrasts his urban and rural experiences. Hunt talks about his mother's interest in cultural education and how it influenced his early interest in the arts. Hunt details his early ventures in the visual arts, including the first formal training he received from the Art Institute of Chicago as a teenager. Richard Hunt discusses further his high school experience, detailing his interests in subjects other than the visual arts. Hunt details his choice to study at the Art Institute of Chicago, and explains why this decision helped his development as an artist. While he gained acceptance in the art world, Hunt explains how being an African American artist was difficult before the Civil Rights Movement. Hunt talks about the artists and works that inspired him to begin sculpting with metal, a decision which led to his first museum and gallery exhibitions in Chicago and New York. Hunt details winning a prize in a Chicago art show before he turned twenty years old. Richard Hunt discusses the creative foundations of his early artwork, including his formal training, his exploration of form and space, and the influence of Julio Gonzalez. He details the success of his early sculptures, some of which were displayed in New York art galleries. Hunt talks about continuing his art career even after he was drafted and served at an Army base. Hunt discusses how his choice of subject became more related to racial issues in the 1960s as opposed to his earlier work in the 1950s. He closes by detailing different teaching appointments and gallery exibitions and explaining how these experiences helped to advance his career. In this discussion of his artwork, Richard Hunt begins by briefly describing his parents' role in his career. He continues to discuss influences on his art career. Hunt describes in detail some of his artwork with African American themes. He details the artistic process and the timeframe for completing a public artwork. Hunt recalls some of his retrospective gallery shows, crediting the Civil Rights Movement with catalyzing interest in African American artwork. He briefly talks about pressures from the Black Nationalist Movement to produce only political art. Hunt details some of the major themes in his art, and how they relate to ideas of freedom. At the end of the discussion, Hunt briefly describes one of his favorite pieces. Richard Hunt continues to discuss one of his public works dealing with form and space. He describes some of his ongoing projects, including memorials in Iowa and Georgia, and his auxiliary studio in Michigan. Hunt looks back on his career and discusses some of the factors that led to his success. He details the changing environment of the art world during the last half of the twentieth century. Hunt briefly discusses the state of and current perceptions of African American art and artists. He concludes the interview by discussing his legacy.

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