Richard Thompson grew up on a farm in Dayton, Oregon and discovered art while a forestry student at Oregon State University in the 1960’s. Today he continues his creative work having returned to live and work on that same farm following a 30-year academic career. He was a Professor of Art at the University of Texas in Austin and he served as Dean of the School of Art and Design at Alfred University in New York.
Thompson has enjoyed many exhibition opportunities in the United States and overseas. His work has twice been included in Whitney Museum of American Art Biennials. His work was included in the 2014 and 2016 Oregon Biennials hosted by Disjecta in Portland, and recently shown in exhibitions in Texas and New Mexico. His works are in the collections of the Portland Art Museum, the Hallie Ford Museum and other public and private collections.