“My obsession with material, both its sensory qualities and the information it communicates about history, society, and our environment are fundamental to my practice”.
-Cristin Ríchard
It takes a great deal of patience to work with natural materials, and for Ríchard, it is a practice that sparks a rich dialogue centered around the human condition. The difficulties associated with processing organic matter, both mentally and physically, mirror the internal and external conflicts that shape our complex living experience.
Predominantly working with animal materials, Ríchard’s practice has been informed by the Native Americans, Inuits, and their intersection with her own personal ancestry. Inherently, this has shaped her understanding of ecological balance, and environmental alignment.
Fashion, installation and performance hold an essential place in her multidisciplinary practice.
-
Cristin Ríchard
Lives and works in Detroit, MI (USA).
_Awards, Honors, Residencies
2020 Gucci Changemakers Award
Design In the City
Detroit, MI
The Siren Hotel
Artist Residency
Detroit, MI
20/20 Playground Detroit
Artist Fellowship
Detroit, MI
2013 Revolve Award
Light Up Livernois
Detroit, MI
SÍM Residency
Reykjavík, Iceland
2011 La Découpe Residency
Paris, France
_Performances
2019 Point of Return
The Detroit Club
Detroit, MI
2016 Metabolism II
Historic Detroit Savings Bank
Detroit, MI
2015 Metabolism I
Historic Detroit Savings Bank
Detroit, MI
2014 Beneath The Skin
with Jacky O’Shaughnessy
Outlet Fine Art
Brooklyn, NY
Trifle III
CultureFix
LES, NYC, New York
2013 Trifle II
Kunstschlager
Reykjavík, Iceland
2011 Domesticate Me
with Lydie Vareilhes of Opéra de national de Paris
La Découpe
Paris, France
_Solo Exhibitions
2022 Endangered Species
Playground Detroit
Detroit, MI
2020 EB/20
Gucci Changemakers, Design in the City
Lisa Spindler Studio
Detroit, MI
2017 Welcome Back
Popps Packing
Hamtramck, MI
2015 Inaugural Exhibition
Playground Detroit
Detroit, MI
2014 Beneath the Skin
Outlet Fine Art
Bushwick, Brooklyn, NY
2013 Trifle
Kunstschlager
Reykjavík, Iceland
2011 Domesticate Me
La Découpe
Paris, France
Domesticate Me (Preview)
l’Hôtel Particulier à Montmartre
Paris, France
_Group Exhibitions
2025 Dress Poetics
Nymphenburg Palace
Munich, Germany
2024 Only Lovers Left Alive
Gallery Kent
Tangier, Morocco
2023 Ofrendas
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit, MI
2021 Dual Visions
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Detroit, MI
2022 Perspectives
Estonian Academy of Arts
Tallinn, Estonia
2019 Bags-Investments and Icons
Spielzeug Welten Museum
Basel, Switzerland
2018 Hats Off to Hats
Spielzeug Welten Museum
Basel, Switzerland
Good Mourning Tis of Thee
Co-Lab Projects DEMO Gallery
Austin, TX
2014 Emergency Nothing
CultureFix
LES, NYC, New York
2013 Uncommon Ground
SÍM
Reykjavík, Iceland
2011 Un:Dress Re:Dress
Public Pool
Hamtramck, MI
2010 Great Lakes Great Times
Secret Project Robot,
Brooklyn, NY
2006 Miss October
The Gallery Project
Ann Arbor, MI
2005 Devils and Dolls
Woman Made Gallery
Chicago, IL
_Curatorial Projects
2025 Design by Desire II
Detroit Month of Design
College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI
2024 Design by Desire
Detroit Month of Design
Rossetti
Detroit, MI
2022 Design Visions
Detroit Month of Design
Shinola Hotel
Detroit, MI
2009-11 Arts Programming Curator
The Burton Theater
Detroit, MI
_Selected Public and Private Collections
Gilbert and Lila Silverman Collection, USA
Detroit Institute of Arts, USA
Briggs & Magistry Collection, France
Lear Corporation, USA
Flagman & Wolf Collection, USA
_Teaching, Advisory, and Research Employment
2026 Board of Directors
The Scarab Club
Detroit, MI
2011-26 Adjunct Professor
College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI
2016-19 Furrier Apprentice
Dittrich Furs, Detroit, MI
_Education
BFA 2006
College For Creative Studies
School of Art & Design
Detroit, MI, USA
_Bibliography
2021
R. Thomas, “Artist Cristin Richard on What Fuels Her Creativity”, www.hourdetroit.com, Troy, MI. May 3.
2020
M. Hodges, “Intestinal Couture”, The Detroit News, Detroit, MI. September 22.
E. Fisher, “Shedding Identity, Embracing Sustainability in Downtown Exhibit, Excess Baggage”, www.detroitisit.com. September 10.
2019
R. Harkai, “Gut Feelings: Cristin Richard’s Obsession with the Visceral”, www.playgrounddetroit.com, Detroit, MI. March 23.
A. Herrera, “Excess Baggage”, Barbed Magazine, Detroit, MI. Fall Issue. Pages 52-54.
CV. Henriette, “Artist Cristin Richard at the Detroit Club”, www.detroitisit.com, Detroit, MI. March 21.
2015
J. Welke, “Metabolism: Cristin Richard, Detroit Design Festival”, www.artfizz.org, Detroit, MI. October 11.
L.DeVito,”Cristin Richard gets deep at Detroit Design Festival”, www.metrotimes.com, Detroit, MI. September 23.
R. Sharp,”Gutsy work by Cristin Richard at Playground Detroit”,www.knightfoundation.org, Detroit, MI. July 28.
2014
A. Galgiani, “At Outlet, Artist Cristin Richard’s work goes way beyond Skin Deep”, www.bushwickdaily.com, Brooklyn, NY.
2013
V. Casal-Data, “Cristin Richard exposes race and identity with dresses that resemble skin”, www.beautifuldecay.com
2011
V. Miller, “Clothing Revealed In Innovative Exhibition “, Knight Arts, www.knightarts.org, Detroit, MI. November 22.
Alison Smith, “Domesticate Me by Cristin Richard”, Trends Magazine Paris, France. April 11.