Richard Frederick Erdmann
1894 - 1965
Richard Erdman (b. May 20, 1952) is an American sculptor known for his exceptional mastery of marble and bronze in abstract forms. His work, which ranges from intimate maquettes to monumental sculptures, bridges ancient carving traditions with contemporary modernism. Erdman splits his time between Williston, Vermont, and Carrara, Italy, where he has long been drawn to the renowned marble quarries. His sculptures are featured in prestigious collections across 52 countries, including the United Nations, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Princeton University, and the Rockefeller Collection.
Erdman’s most iconic work, Passage (1985), stands as the largest sculpture ever carved from a single block of travertine, measuring 25 by 16 feet, and is part of the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo. His artistic exploration frequently focuses on the tactile relationship between energy, space, and the materiality of stone, a direct reflection of his early experiences growing up in Dorset, Vermont, near the U.S.'s oldest marble quarries. Erdman’s background in the outdoors and as a two-time NCAA All-American skier at the University of Vermont further influenced his sense of balance and movement in sculpture.
Since 1975, Erdman has traveled to Carrara, Italy, to source marble for his work, blending the age-old techniques of stone-carving with modernist abstraction. His large-scale works include Arete (2017), a monumental Bardiglio marble sculpture created for the Timeless 55 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. Erdman has executed more than 120 commissioned pieces for public, corporate, and museum collections worldwide, including works like Spira (2014) at the Enzo Enea Tree Museum in Switzerland and Crescendo (2012) in Houston, TX.
His sculptures have been shown in more than 160 exhibitions worldwide, leaving a significant mark on the global art scene. Erdman was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Vermont in 2016, further cementing his legacy as a key figure in contemporary sculpture.
Erdman’s most iconic work, Passage (1985), stands as the largest sculpture ever carved from a single block of travertine, measuring 25 by 16 feet, and is part of the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens at PepsiCo. His artistic exploration frequently focuses on the tactile relationship between energy, space, and the materiality of stone, a direct reflection of his early experiences growing up in Dorset, Vermont, near the U.S.'s oldest marble quarries. Erdman’s background in the outdoors and as a two-time NCAA All-American skier at the University of Vermont further influenced his sense of balance and movement in sculpture.
Since 1975, Erdman has traveled to Carrara, Italy, to source marble for his work, blending the age-old techniques of stone-carving with modernist abstraction. His large-scale works include Arete (2017), a monumental Bardiglio marble sculpture created for the Timeless 55 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. Erdman has executed more than 120 commissioned pieces for public, corporate, and museum collections worldwide, including works like Spira (2014) at the Enzo Enea Tree Museum in Switzerland and Crescendo (2012) in Houston, TX.
His sculptures have been shown in more than 160 exhibitions worldwide, leaving a significant mark on the global art scene. Erdman was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Vermont in 2016, further cementing his legacy as a key figure in contemporary sculpture.
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