Who We Are
Richard Stravitz graduated Adelphi University in 1958. A native of Manhasset, Long Island, this former Marine and retired Chairman of Boars Head Provisions in Brooklyn, New York, pursued his growing interest in art, painting with oils and sculpting wood in his spare time. In 1983, Richard Stravitz moved to Richmond, Virginia and took early retirement in 1990 to pursue his lifelong love of art and sculpting. These days, he has the joy of devoting himself to creating marvelous bronze pieces with the technique used by the sculptors of ancient Rome.
Employing the “lost wax” technique, Stravitz begins each of his works with wire and clay. After undergoing a few subsequent steps, part alchemy and part foundry, wax takes the place of the clay and then is melted away (hence, the “lost wax”) inside a ceramic form, into which the molten bronze is finally poured, allowed to harden and then released into its final state.
Each of his pieces remain true to their subject, with muscle and sinew realistically wrought, magically revealed; the soul of the subject emerges as well. A compliment to his ability to capture motion and detail, Richard Stravitz is widely-recognized for his distinctive ability to sculpt emotion.
Richard Stravitz sculptures are displayed throughout the country in prestigious settings including the Supreme Court Building of Virginia, the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond, the John Marshall House in Richmond, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, Mary Washington University, Fredericksburg, Virginia, Old Dominion University in Norfolk, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and many more. Commissioned in 2010 to create a life-size bronze sculpture on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, Virginia in honor of Josh Thompson and the battle to defeat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Richard has been dedicated to working towards a cure. A smaller maquette of that statue (Anticipation) is sold at the Richard Stravitz Sculpture and Fine Art Gallery with a portion of the proceeds donated to ALS research.
RICHARD STRAVITZ
Working primarily in bronze, Richard has studied at the following schools/studios:
Virginia Commonwealth University under Joseph Seiple
University of Richmond under Mark Rhodes
The Martine Vaugel of Vaugel Sculpture Studio, Loire, France
The Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, Colorado with Bruno Luccesi, Blair Boswell,
and Peter Bruno
Richard MacDonald Sculpture Studio in Carmel, CA
JEAN REIMER MUEHLEN
Raised in River Edge, NJ, Jean Reimer Muehlen was born into an artistic family and was al;ways encouraged to express herself creatively. She majored in Sculpture and the University of Rhode Island, where she met her husband, David. She began her career working at various advertising agencies in the Tidewater area and ultimately opened a sign business, Admiral Signworks, in 1977. After retiring in 2004, she ran her own mural business at which point she met Richard Stravitz and began working in his sculpture studio.
AMY KITCHIN
“If you love art, and the exposure to new work and talent, then there’s not a better job than this. Not only do I represent Richard’s incredible sculptures, but I also meet new artists and find and curate an ever evolving body of beautiful work that fills the gallery. I’ve worked with Richard for 10 years. He comes in and works everyday. He’s focused and exacting, and he’s 85. That’s inspiring. We’re lucky. We have 7000 sq ft of gallery space and that’s quite a canvas to play with. And thrilling to see when it all works.” Amy Kitchin, studio manager and curator.
For as long as she can remember, Amy has loved to step into the alternate worlds and realities that beautiful words and meaningful art bring to life. An academic background including BAs in Art History and English Literature as well as MA in Art History and an MS in Psychology provided the springboard to work in the Outreach and Education Departments for the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA, Winston-Salem, NC), the Museum of Fine Art (St. Petersburg, FL), the Tampa Museum of Art and The Chrysler Museum (Norfolk, VA) and served as Arts Editor/Writer for the St. Pete Times and Beacon-Leader-Bee Publications in St. Petersburg, FL.
Great art generates conversations about the bigger questions we rarely consider in the daily hustle. Life as a gallerist, surrounded by contemporary fine art, working side by side with Richard Stravitz, affords Amy the ability to do what is personally and professionally meaningful by sharing what she sees and why she sees it with those around her.
Installations
Commissioned sculptures may be viewed at the following sites:
The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, IL - John Marshall
Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA - John Marshall
Supreme Court of Virginia, Richmond, VA - John Marshall
Naval Academy Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Annapolis, MD - Coach Willis (Bildy) Bilderback
Naval Academy Lacrosse Hall of Fame, Annapolis, MD - Coach William (Dinty) Moore
William and Mary University, Williamsburg, VA - President John Tyler, Governor John Tyler, Sr., Lyon Gardiner Tyler (the Tyler Garden)
Mary Washington University, Fredricksburg, VA - Dr. James Farmer, Jr.
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA - "Big Blue" sports mascot
1st and Boardwalk, Virginia Beach, VA - "Anticipation"
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, Portsmouth, VA - Collection of sports bronze sculptures
The Sydney Kellam Office Building, Virginia Beach, VA - Sydney Kellam
Providence Park, Virginia Beach, VA - "Good Game" Pony League Statue
Cavalier Golf and Yacht Club, Virginia Beach, VA
Beach Gallery, Virginia Beach, VA