Rene Ricard

René Ricard (1946, 2014) was an American poet, art critic, and painter whose multifaceted career bridged the worlds of literature and visual art. He is perhaps best known for his influential essays in Artforum, including 'The Radiant Child' (1981), which helped launch the careers of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. As a painter, Ricard produced text-heavy, expressive canvases that blended poetry, portraiture, and personal mythology, reflecting his deep immersion in the New York downtown art scene.