"I wanted to make a picture that would respond to Valéry’s request: 'I want to unknowingly behold something that mirrors my thought'. To do so would require rethinking representational strategies of signification. I wanted the painting to provide an original experience."
Richard Höglund (b. 1982, Sumter, South Carolina) is an American artist whose work bridges abstraction, figuration, and semiology, creating pieces that are both intellectually rigorous and visually compelling. Educated at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Haute École des Arts du Rhin in Strasbourg, France, Höglund’s practice draws from literary, historical, and philosophical references to explore themes of language, history, and perception. His art often incorporates unconventional materials such as pulverized bone, marble dust, and precious metals like gold and silver, transforming traditional drawing and painting techniques into meditative investigations of meaning and representation. Höglund views drawing as the most direct expression of human thought, a foundation for his exploration of the interplay between materiality and narrative.
In 2013, Höglund was selected by renowned artist Tacita Dean to participate in her workshop at the Fundación Botín in Santander, Spain. His work has been widely exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the Ronchini Gallery in London, The Bonnier Gallery in Miami, and Custot Gallery in Dubai. His paintings are included in prominent collections like the Dallas Museum of Art and the Rachofsky Collection. Through his innovative approach to mark-making and his deep engagement with semiotics and history, Höglund continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art. He currently lives and works in France.