Rick is well known for his African masks and sculptures. He uses Raku, the Japanese firing technique, that involves moving the creation from the 2500 degree kiln and submerging it into natural foliage.
This specific piece reminds me of the Dan Tribe / Peoples’ masks of the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) Africa.
In addition, he uses a Korean technique with the kiln built into a hillside. With “reduction”, he cuts off oxygen to the kiln and thereby leaving the creation looking black or metal looking.
Techniques like this certainly add to the duo effect of modern and primitive.
This piece is an original and hand signed in 1994.