Richard Gullicksen was born in Chicago, Illinois. His last residence was in Kailua, Hawaii.

    He was an avid painter since his youth. His inspiration was his environment, be it slabs of stone, living or decaying plants, or landscapes.

 

    He studied Art and Design at The University Of Chicago and New York University. His areas of expertise were theater and opera, set design, painting, sculpting and he played piano all his life. 

 

    Richard had two careers---painter and Set Designer. He painted for 50 years, and designed sets for 40 years.

 

    Richard held Set Designer positions in New York, Atlanta and Honolulu from the 1960's until 1999. This included the Atlanta Opera Company, Hawaii Opera Theatre, and the Hawaii Chamber Opera. He was a  Set Designer for 38 operas, many ballets, musicals, plays, and shows. Additionally, Richard wrote, directed, and designed costumes.

 

    He taught and designed coursework for Drama departments at universities, including at the University of Hawaii. His students eagerly attended his drama classes. His vast knowledge and skills in art, opera, theater, and music enriched many students, sparking their interest in painting, drawing, set design, stage set painting, and costume design. 

   

    Richard's paintings were shown in galleries in Hawaii. His clients are private collectors, banks, hotels, and more.