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San Diego native richard richard richards (FKA “Richard Provencio”), is a visual artist, writer, and recovering comedian who primarily works in the medium of photography. richards considers his camera an extension of himself and uses it “like a Quija Board only cooler,” claiming it helps guide him to a place where intuition, chance, and preparedness meet and also “it’s got a lot of megapixel thingies." Known for his professionalism, sincerity, and cleverful…ness(?), richards has a knack for finding the exact moment when a feeling emerges and pulling it right out of thin air like a daft pick pocket or bumbling sorcerer.
It was initially at stand up shows in seedy dive bars and comedy clubs where richards first cut his teeth as an artist. Though increasingly painful and counterproductive to most socially accepted oral hygiene practices, richards has since carried on cutting his teeth as a documentarian, street photographer, and fine artist claiming to be a “lifelong learner,” a “visual poet,” and “some other BS.” But, it was years ago at those truly awful “comedy” shows where richards developed his fascination with people and began addressing philosophical issues like what it means to be human through his creative endeavors. This fascination with humanity, whatever that means, is at the base of what drives richards as he uses the camera to piece together his take on the human condition.
As a street photographer richards operates primarily as a collector (or a “hoarder” if you want to be rude about it), taking in his favorite selections of what the world has to offer. Some of his favorite subjects include: cats, dogs, people, faces in inanimate objects, crude graffiti, natural frames, and the surreal. As a documentarian most of richardsessesssessssssessssss’ projects have been centered around the musings of his heart. A couple of past projects have focused on his sometimes-unhealthy-love of comedy on display in the photo series “Comedy, I love you.” and the tangentially related web series “Meet the Micers” which both act as a windows into the world of open mic comedy. While richards continues to have an enormous love for all things comedy he is also not afraid to turn his camera toward less joyous subject matter. richards has produced bodies of work covering the 2020 civil rights movement locally in San Diego, with some coverage up the coast in Portland, Oregon. Additionally, richards became obsessed with our society’s return to “normalcy” after the COVID-19 vaccine which he documented in his “We’re back!” project. Presently, richards is working on long term projects covering religion; animal captivity in zoos, aquariums, and amusement parks; music; and an upcoming collaborative zine with his new San Diego based street collective, Heart.
Outside of work richards enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and their two cats. Whether developing a new creative skill, nerding out to a documentary, or losing himself in a good podcast or book, he’s living his best life set to a very dope yet eclectic soundtrack.
