Richard Weigand
Artist, craftsman, and lifelong seeker of beauty, Richard Weigand was born in Iowa in 1946 and has spent his life drawn to the world of art in all its forms. His creative path began to take shape at just fifteen, in a high school art class where students were free to choose their own projects. While others reached for pencils or paint, Richard chose wood. His teacher was so taken with the figure he carved that she entered it into an exhibition at a local college in Moorhead, Minnesota. The piece won honorable mention—and caught the eye of a collector who offered $175, a princely sum in 1963. But Richard’s proud father refused the offer; the sculpture was too meaningful to part with.
By sixteen, Richard had found a home at the Rourke Art Museum in Moorhead. Just a year later, he was entrusted with running the community art institute—a remarkable position for someone still in their teens. Founded by James O’Rourke, a towering figure in the regional arts scene, the Rourke was dedicated to nurturing excellence. Richard flourished in this environment, inspired by a deep respect for craftsmanship and artistic integrity.
He went on to study art at the University of North Dakota, expanding his skills across disciplines: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, architecture, and his enduring passion—woodworking. Influenced by the ideals of Arts & Crafts philosopher John Ruskin, Richard holds fast to the belief that materials should speak honestly, and that true art reveals the soul of its substance. His handmade furniture radiates these principles, each piece a tribute to the beauty of natural forms and enduring function.
Today, Richard works primarily with locally harvested or salvaged hardwoods, creating elegant "live edge" slab furniture and offering well-prepared slabs to fellow makers. This work bridges his personal values, creative drive, and belief in community. He understands the hunger people have for objects of integrity—pieces that hold a sense of place, time, and story. He believes in the power of craft to shape not only homes, but economies, relationships, and meaning.
To Richard, work is both purpose and play, measured not in dollars, but in thoughtfulness, creation, and shared appreciation.
“I find when work is approached in this manner, cooperation and success are forthcoming.” – Richard Weigand
Noteworthy Commissions:
Designed and built a custom desk for Mike McCurry, President Clinton’s Press Secretary, from a cherished maple tree that once stood in McCurry’s yard.
Created museum-quality reproduction entry hall furniture for a historic Greene & Greene home in Pasadena, California.
Designed and built bespoke home office furniture for the founder of Hanes in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
