Richard Boprae - Click here for PDF

Richard Boprae, founder of Boprae Studio, is a French Canadian artist living and working in Denver. Born in Montreal in 1971, Boprae, a self-described ''nomad,''creates art fueled by his passion for travel and the exploration of new cultures. Having lived in Japan and traveled extensively throughout Europe and Central America, Boprae often finds inspiration in the natural elements, and the legacy of traditional art. The rich textures that he has encountered in sacred spaces throughout the world often serve as the backdrop for his opulent designs.

''For me, sources of inspiration are ever-abundant. I am in continuous pursuit of the endless journey of creation, inspired by the legacy of those who lived before me. Every culture, landscape, religion, city, and tradition stirs my imagination, and my creations are a result of the fusion between those inspirations and a harmonized, visual elegance that suits its time and environment ''

Boprae's art brings ancient totemic hand-carving techniques and organic elements to contemporary design. His diverse body of work includes decorative murals commissioned for private and commercial installations, sculptured architectural panels and room dividers, and statuesque''totems'' specifically-designed to adjust to the mood of a particular space.

Boprae's unique self-taught style consists of sculptured forms of repetitive patterns crafted in cement and applied to carved wood, wood panels, and canvas. He uses this cement base to create a high-relief texture, which is later coated in color. The three-dimensional aspect of the work's final result brings his art closer to the family of sculpture. By following his instincts and the natural evolution of his work, Boprae creates distinctive decorative panels and murals that can be easily incorporated into modern residential and commercial applications.

According to Boprae,''My goal is to collaborate with architects and interior designers on challenging projects that allow my art to become part of the architecture, and the architecture part of my art.''

Both preceding and following his first major solo exhibition, ''Odyssey 1,'' which took place in Miami in 2001, Boprae's work has been featured in a variety of solo and group exhibitions throughout the U.S., Canada, and Japan. In addition, his work has been commissioned for various residential and commercial installations, the latter of which include: Karu&Y Restaurant, Miami; ''Tottem'', Miami; Cynergi Wynwood, Miami; Majestic Properties, Miami; Clinique L'Actuelle, Canada; Salgari Fabrica, Columbia; and the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Miami. In May 2007, Boprae's collection, ''Dream Catcher,'' debuted at ICFF in New York.

Solo Exhibitions

2008

• ''EDIT'' CulturHaus related event sponsored by Denver Art Museum
  Official Opening Boprae Studio Denver

2004

• ''ZEN GARDEN ''Art Basel related event sponsored by the restaurant Karu at BOPRAE studio.

2003

• ''Healing'', Murano Grande - Continental Group, Miami Beach, FL

2002

• ''Microcosmos'', Daylight Factory Gallery, Montreal, Canada
• ''Odyssey II: Planets and their Alignment'', Price Gallery, Miami Beach, FL

2001

• ''Odyssey I'', Price Gallery, Miami Beach, FL

Group Exhibitions

2007

• ''Dream Catcher'' International Contemporary Art Fair ICFF in New York

2005

• Art Basel related event - Raleigh Hotel - Miami, FL
• Cynergi - Presentation related to Architectural Project

2004

• ''Emergence'' Guest artist -Majestic Properties Flag Ship Miami Beach, FL
• Dot 51, Tribute to the American Flag, Miami Design District Gallery Bibianne.
• Grand Opening Main Gallery, Toronto, Canada

2003

• ART BASEL -- Raul Carrasco Show Room, Miami Design District ''Weisman Institute '', Las Olas Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL

2002

• ''Urgent Emerging Emergency'', Studio Seven    Salute to Art Basel, Miami, FL
• ''Philharmonic Orchestra: Fundraising'', Las Olas Fine Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• ''Bio'', Fashion Lab Studio, Montreal, Canada
• ''Opening Exhibition'', Price Gallery, Miami Beach, FL

1997

• ''Foreign Art in Tokyo'', Las Chicas Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

Art Fairs

2002

• Art Miami, Price Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
• Art Atlanta, Price Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia

Commissions

2005

• Commission by Cesar Sotomayor for latest Project Totem, reception room.
• Commission by Wynwood Residential project for lobby architectural integration. Miami, FL

2004

• Commission by New Miami Landmark restaurant ''Karu @ Y ''for 2 large murals for their main hall, Miami, FL

2003

• Commission by Majestic Property for the creation of an Architectural Piece for the lobby of the Miami Beach Headquarters
• Commission by Salgari Textile Factory, to create a painting for their Colombian Head-Office, Pereira, Colombia
• Commission to create a public sculpture for the Miami Beach Art in Public Places Project: ''Beach Balls'', Miami Beach, FL

2002

• Commission to create a new line of jewelry painting in collaboration with Prince Dimitri of Yugosalvia's jewelers; Launching of the line at the Phillips Auction House, New York
• Commission by art collector: Mr. & Mrs. Silverman to create the painting:
  ''Orbit II'', Aventura, FL
• Commission by Architect Steve Bostic to create the painting: ''Dorada'', for a private residential project

2001

• Commission by art collector Terry Calscaf to create the painting: ''Gion'', Miami Beach, FL
• Commission by art collector Mr. Al Phillips to create the painting: ''Homemade Religion'', Miami Beach, FL
• Commission by art collector Marnie Quinn to create the painting: ''Geisha'', Bloomfield, Michigan
• Commission by art collector Dina Goldstein to create the painting:''Aquatic'', Boca Raton, FL

2000

• Commission by art collector John Bravakis to create the painting:''Salvation of a Warrior'', Los Angeles, CA

1999

• Commission by Designer Matt McDonald to create a total of fourteen paintings, for the lobby of Goerge Perez Development Oceania One Hotel and ondominium Complex, Miami Beach, FL
• Commission by Developer Wallace Tutt to create two paintings for a private residential project. Miami Beach, FL. Published by Florida Design magazine.

Art in Public Places

• Polymorphic architecture instalation for Totem, special event hall of Karu Restaurant Miami
• Architecture integration to the lobby of CYNERGI Wynwood Residential development Miami.
• Karu @ Y Restaurant Main Hall Installation, Miami, FL
• Majestic Properties, Lobby installation, Miami Beach, Florida
• Clinique L' Actuelle, Montreal, Canada
• Salgari Fabrica, Bogotá, Colombia
• Oceania 1 Condominium complex, Miami Beach, USA
• Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Miami Beach USA

Distinctions

2005

• Chosen Spoke artist for Wynwood residential development Cynergi.
• Boprae Studio Nomination for best live and work space in Miami by Urbana Magazine.

2003

• TV interview, ''Isabelle Autour du Monde ''TV5 Europe and Canada. ''French Canadian artist making it in US, living the American dream in Miami Beach.''
• Cover story for Miami Beach local publication  ''WIRE '' November Issue.
• Cover story Match Magazine Miami Beach, Art in architecture Miami Modern Living.

2002

• TV interview ''NU '' Tele-Mundo Latin Channel ''El Artista en casa, The Artist at home'' Spanish Interview.