After joining the St. Mark’s community this school year as the new 3-D design & woodworking teacher, Ryder Richards tells the story of his artistic journey.
In a featured profile for the ReMarker, “New Woodworking Teacher Shares His Journey,” Ryder Richards discusses the evolution of his creative practice from his upbringing in New Mexico to his current role as the 3-D design and woodworking teacher at St. Mark’s School of Texas. The article explores how his early background in sports and carpentry shaped his philosophical approach to art—viewing it as a process of “long-term execution” and refinement rather than high-pressure performance.
Richards details his diverse career path, which includes studying architecture at Texas A&M, earning an MFA from TCU, directing art galleries, and spending a decade as a corporate creative director. Now focusing on woodworking as both a technical craft and a form of personal therapy, Richards shares how he guides students through skill-building and the creation of unique, functional art in the workshop.
Reference
Yi, Ben. “New woodworking teacher shares his journey.” ReMarker, 13 Mar. 2026, https://smremarker.com/6216/academics/new-woodworking-teacher-shares-his-journey/.