Richard Killeen was born in Auckland in 1946 and graduated from the University of Auckland in 1966 with a Diploma of Fine Arts.
In the late 70’s he developed a “cut out” style of work using separate images within one work, which are now synonymous with Killeen’s name. He dispensed with the constraints of a frame by painting images on separate tags or on aluminium plates. Whilst he provides the image he leaves it to the person hanging the work to choose how to display the work. At this time he began to use a computer to generate images for his work and by 2003 his practice had become totally digital.
He has accumulated an extensive resource of images from many sources, which he uses to create his work. These works range from 320 pieces to works on price labels small enough to fit in a matchbox.
He was awarded the Officer of the NZ Order of Merit in 2002 . His work is represented in the collections of all major New Zealand art museums and many Australian public and private collections.
