Richard Serra studied at the University of California in Berkeley and Santa Barbara from 1957 to 1961, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then continued his education at the University of California and Yale University, where he was a student of German-American painter and designer Josef Albers from 1961 to 1964.
After completing his studies, Serra worked in a steelworks before traveling to Italy in 1964, where he was exposed to the movements of Arte Povera and Minimal Art, which had a significant influence on his work. He moved to New York in 1966 and became involved with the Minimal Art movement, incorporating its principles into his own sculptural works.
Serra's early sculptures often featured materials such as lead, neon tubes, and rubber, and he experimented with process art, exhibiting lead shapes that had been created through throwing. In the late 1960s, he began creating monumental sculptures from steel and iron, which would become a hallmark of his work.
Throughout his career, Serra has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1970 and the Sculpture Award from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1975. He was awarded the Order Pour le Mérite in 2002 and the Alexej von Jawlensky Prize in 2014.
Serra's sculptures are known for their massive size and weight, with some pieces reaching heights of up to 17 meters. He often collaborates with engineers and fitters to create his monumental works, which are designed to balance and appear light despite their substantial weight.
In addition to his sculptural work, Serra has also explored printmaking, drawing, video, and film. He has installed his sculptures in various public spaces, including the "Terminal" object in Bochum in 1976 and 1977, which created an ambivalent relationship between the sculpture and its surroundings.
Serra's work has not been without controversy, with his 1989 sculpture "Tilted Arc" being torn down by the New York City Council. Despite this, he continues to create innovative and thought-provoking works of art, including the expansive walk-in installation "The Matter of Time" for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in 2005.
