Richard Whittaker: A Selection from this Archives @ Roll Up Project
Roll Up Project is pleased to present a selection of artworks by Richard Whittaker. Whittaker’s fine art practice has paralleled a long career as a writer, interviewer, and publisher. His magazines – The Secret Alameda and works & conversations – are a lasting testament to his skill as a lively and thoughtful conversation partner, and to his interest in deeply understanding people and their driving forces. His photography, works on paper, paintings, and sculptures expand on his philosophical perspective, often highlighting moments of sublime beauty in nature.
A painted chair and tall shelf transform the window on Harrison Street into a cozy room for contemplation. Two abstract sculptures lean against the wall beside a selection of photographs, a monotype, and magazine covers. Whittaker entered into digital graphic design in 1990 spontaneously and without preparation as desktop computers, PageMaker, and scanners transformed the publishing process. His inquiries into the essential sources of an artist’s work bring studio conversations to a deeper level than most contemporary artist profiles. His studies in philosophy, clinical psychology, and theology inform his conversational approach, and a gift for putting artists at ease, leads to rich material. Whittaker states that “over the years, I’ve done almost nothing to promote myself or the magazine. And so it remains under the radar.” However, Whittaker’s interviews and essays have been included in many artists’ catalogues and books. works & conversations has a devoted fan base and, along with interviews in the printed magazine, there are many additional interviews on conversations.org. including several he did for Parabola magazine as its West Coast Editor.
In the Harrison Street windows, Whittaker’s artful cover designs hold equal footing alongside photographs that have graced the magazine’s interior pages. Whittaker initially took up photography in the 1970s, after finding inspiration on a dazzling drive across the Bay Bridge at sunset. Photographs like Existentialism (n.d.) and Night Tower (n.d.) show man-made features set against awe-inspiring vistas, encouraging the viewer to compare the two elements, and to envision themselves in each space.
Other artworks in the Third Street window, like the photograph Sobek Takes a Break (n.d.) – depicting a broken ceramic sculpture of the Egyptian crocodile god Sobek smoking a cigarillo beside rusted cans of fuel and paint – point to Whittaker’s playful sense of humor. Nearby, an untitled wood sculpture inlaid with a ruler, bits of brass, and a smooth piece of granite is mounted beside a black and gray painting and a colorful monotype and give evidence of Whittaker’s hands-on experience in several mediums. Viewed together, they tell the story of an artist with a dedication to beauty, the pursuit of knowledge and some freedom from convention.
About the Artist
Richard Whittaker is an artist, writer, and publisher based in Oakland. His magazines The Secret Alameda (1990-1997) and works & conversations (1998-present) feature interviews with artists and poets alongside his photography. Whittaker earned a BA in philosophy at Pomona College and an MA in clinical psychology at JFK University. He also spent time at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He was Parabola magazine’s West Coast editor for its last fifteen years of publication. The Conversations – Interviews with Sixteen Contemporary Artists was published in 2007 by Whale and Star. His photography will be featured in an upcoming exhibition at Canessa Gallery in San Francisco in June 2026.
Learn more about Richard Whittaker at conversations.org. You can also leave a message or inquiry at 510-653-1146.