For more than 65 years, Richard Starks has been captivated by metal — the sounds, the sparks, the heat, and even the smells. “Watching the molten puddle while I form a new weld is hypnotic,” he says. Using TIG welding exclusively, Starks shapes stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminum into forms that are precise, expressive, and deeply physical.

Starks began creating larger welded sculptures in 1998, and after retiring from teaching in 2005, he dedicated himself fully to sculpture. Eleven semesters of advanced sculpture and public art classes at San Jose State University followed, refining his approach to scale, material, and form. The result is work that feels intentional and cohesive, with surfaces so carefully sanded and finished they appear carved from a single, solid piece of metal.

Public art has become a significant part of Starks’s practice. His sculptures have been exhibited for nearly two decades in outdoor and indoor settings throughout California, including long-running installations in Los Altos, Cloverdale, Orinda, and Yountville, as well as exhibitions at Filoli Gardens, the Ruth Bancroft Gardens Sculpture Show, and San Jose State University galleries. Festivals and shows ranging from Sausalito to Saratoga to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas have further expanded the reach of his work.

Yountville, in particular, holds special meaning. “I thank the town of Yountville for allowing me to be part of their Art Walk program,” Starks says. “While wandering through the town, a visitor will see all types of sculptures placed along the walkways. I have been lucky to be a participant in this program for over ten years.” The accessibility of the program matters to him as well. “The sculptures are not only on display,” he notes, “but are available for purchase,” reinforcing the connection between artist, community, and collector.

Starks’s relationship with form began long before public exhibitions. As a child, he spent hours doodling, carving shapes in dirt or sand, and even sculpting watermelon and cheese before drawing the results. Drafting and drawing classes later provided the technical framework to support that early curiosity. Today, most of his sculptures originate from imagined shapes first explored in his mind and sketchbook.

A 35-year career teaching industrial arts in the East Side Union High School District further sharpened his technical skill and patience. Teaching metals, wood, drafting, electronics, and art reinforced the fundamentals that continue to guide his studio practice.

When asked which piece is his favorite, Starks always gives the same answer: “The one I’m working on right now.” It’s a fitting response for an artist whose work reflects both lifelong discipline and ongoing curiosity.

Looking beyond individual installations, Starks credits the broader region for its support. “The entire Napa Valley area has an appreciation for all types of artwork,” he says. “The Napa Valley community is a perfect setting for displaying and promoting the arts.”

In steel shaped by fire and imagination, Richard Starks continues to build forms meant not just to be seen, but experienced.