RICK COHEN
ARTIST STATEMENT 2024
CIRCULARITY
My Art is Assemblage or Sculptural Collage. Through the manipulation and arrangement of recycled, found round objects, I have developed and expanded a different perspective and approach to an Art Form. These Sculptures are abstract, mostly non-representational works that are composed of differing arrangements of varying sized circles, orbiculars, colors, and materials.
In College, I studied Art, Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing, but did not follow a professional career path into the Jewelry Arts. My assemblages developed as an outgrowth of my creative urges and fascination with color, shape, pattern, repetitions and the use of components. The whole creative process has been evolving over 35 years.
My Art is reconstructed from many of the articles and refuse of our everyday lives and activities. Each individual component, that composes every Assemblage, is formerly a product meant to perform a specific task and is the result of innumerable efforts by individuals across the globe. After the stated objective of the component has been performed, its purpose and its usefulness are moot, the component is then usually discarded into the trash. Instead of disposing as trash, there is another opportunity, converting these objects to art.
This process simply started out with collecting, then manipulating and arranging various household items and toy parts. None of these items really had any connection to one another, but I realized that there could be a strong visual statement made by manipulating and arranging a variety of similar and dissimilar shaped objects of varying color and size.
All of the materials used are obtained from a wide range of sources. Besides household packaging discards, I seek out “groovy round parts” at garage and estate sales and flea markets. I have even dived a dumpster or trash heap or two. I constantly seek interesting round objects wherever I can find them.
All of these miscellaneous objects are the products of a multitude of purposes, and efforts. Re -assembled together, these components and modules together create a visual statement of color design, shape and dimension. Collectively, these objects come together and become objects of art.
ABOUT
Born in Miami Florida, I demonstrated creative tendencies at an early age with an interest in sculpture and metal work. In College, I studied Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design but did not follow a path into the Jewelry Arts. My sculptures are an outgrowth of my fascination with circles, color, and the usage of repurposed and recycled found objects as modules with which to create and construct Assemblage Art. My work is found in collections in Florida, New York, New Jersey, California and Oregon.
EDUCATION
University of South Florida, Tampa. Studio Arts, 1971-1973
Pacific University, Forest Grove Oregon. Metal and Jewelry Arts, 1974-1976
EXHIBITIONS
2025 collaboARTive Noche de Arte at InterContinental Miami, Solo Exhibition
2024 Florida International University Biscayne Campus, Hubert Library, Permanent Installation
2024 Florida International University Faculty and Friends
2022 DIATOMACEOUS DREAMS II Hubert Library FIU Biscayne Bay Campus, Miami FL. Solo Exhibit.
2021 DIATOMACEOUS DREAMS Solo Exhibit at Biscayne National Park, Homestead FL.
2019 Perrine Community House Palmetto Bay Solo Exhibit.
2019 Broward Art Guild Tri County Biennial at ArtServe.
2019 Broward Art Guild “Square Foot Showcase”, Honorable Mention.
2018 CIRCULARITY Solo Exhibit Art Serve Ft. Lauderdale FL.
2018 Broward Art Guild “Art Florida 2018” Show.
2017 Broward Art Guild Ft. Lauderdale FL. Small Works Show, Honorable Mention.
2017 Art Serve Ft. Lauderdale FL. True Colors Show.
2017 Broward Art Guild Ft. Lauderdale FL. Summer Sizzle Show.
2017 Broward Art Guild Ft Lauderdale Fl. 66th Annual Show.
2017 Art Serve Ft. Lauderdale FL. Art Bravo Show. Judges Recognition.
2016 Broward Art Guild Ft Lauderdale FL. Small Works Show, Second Place.
2016 Artists in Paradise Galley, Big Pine Key FL.
2013 Tropical Audubon Society Miami FL.
2011 Pacific University Alumni Show Forest Grove Oregon.