Carmen Richards was born and raised in the Carolinas and began her creative career as a textile designer. Upon moving to Denver in 2011, she began working with Project Worthmore, a local non-profit that provides programs which foster self-sufficiency for refugees, founding their annual art show and fundraiser, Our Neighbors Ourselves. Her personal artwork has since aimed to bring more awareness to various social and environmental issues and inspired her to become part of other artist communities with similar visions such as ZEEL and RedLine.

Recent projects include a growing collection of self-portraits by friends and strangers alike, glimpses into the plight of refugees, and a social art experiment along the Platte River in Globeville. Carmen strives to create accessible points for others to learn new means of personal expression. The learning is reciprocal, and she gleans creative inspiration in unexpected ways from other people as well. Historically, her painting subjects have been mostly people, but she likes to balance her representational work with abstract concepts and exploration. She says, “It is human nature that I have always been most eager to expand my understanding of.” Carmen also enjoys pushing the edges of what is considered “fine art” with recycled or repurposed materials, vowing to make the most of what is already on hand. Her goal to use “no new things” as much as possible in her art making and daily life has served only to magnify “the truth of sheer abundance all around us.”

When not hustling around with her dog and two teenagers, Carmen can be found working in her art studio or out exploring nature and mural projects. Be on the lookout for collaborations and Pop-ups with @zeelartistgroup, an ArtCorp show at RedLine in May, and the Smithsonian exhibition, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith at the History Colorado Center in August. If interested in contributing to the @infiniteportraitproject, contact Carmen through her website www.carmenrichards.com or Instagram @carmen._.richards

Jared Herzing Creative Arts Editor

Jared is a local content contributor and aspiring author. He was fortunate enough to grow up in Golden, Colorado and graduated from MSU Denver. While an insatiable love of travel lures him all over the world, his roots remain firmly planted here. He enjoys writing short stories, poetry, children's books, societal observations, and everything else. A nature enthusiast and sunshine connoisseur, Jared is perfectly at home on any mountaintop or patio. He frequents art galleries and concerts, poetry readings and breweries, museums and bookstores. When he isn't making neighbors cringe at his musical attempts he can be found on a snowboard or sailboat, depending on the day. A perpetual adventurer and eternal patron of the road less traveled.