Matthew Richards

Born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Matthew lived in Japan for 18 years after graduating from Penn State. It was during his time in Japan that art became a more prominent part of his life. As a child, he was surrounded by creativity—his grandfather’s pottery, his father’s woodworking, his mother’s graphic design, and his own curiosity for artistic expression.

While in Japan, he immersed himself in pottery, studied Japanese calligraphy, and explored photography, woodworking, and taiko (traditional Japanese drumming). These diverse experiences now inform his current artistic practice, which combines clay, metal, and wood into striking, multi-material creations.

Fire & Clay
“My interest in pottery began when I was young, watching my grandfather at the potter’s wheel. When I moved to Japan, I had the good fortune of studying the craft with a Japanese master potter. My time in Japan greatly influences all my works.”

Fire & Steel
“Taken by the art of blacksmithing and mentored by fellow art club member Jim Hovanec, I have built my own forge: The Grindstone Dragon Forge.”