Since 1997, Richard Masters has exhibited his artwork in highly competitive venues, a record that includes numerous solo, group, and invitational shows, as well as over fifty national and international juried exhibitions. His work is often critically recognized, honors that include nine Best of Show or equivalent awards.
In the field of design, the artist has been credited with 35 coin and medal designs through his work with the Treasury Department’s United States Mint. Design credits among circulating coinage include the 2006 Nebraska State Quarter reverse, the 2009 Bicentennial Lincoln Cent (log cabin) reverse, the 2018 America the Beautiful® (AtB) Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Quarter reverse, and the 2020 AtB American Samoa National Park Quarter reverse.
Mr. Masters is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he served as Professor of Art in the area of Design for 19 years. He studied design and drawing at the University of Iowa’s prestigious School of Art and Art History, graduating with a MFA degree in 1990.
Born in Iowa, the artist and his spouse, MeeWha Alana Lee, moved to New York City in 2015 to pursue independent careers in the fine and performing arts.