Richie Nath interview, with Eliza Palmer
Richie Nath, An Oyster Without a Pearl, 2026, Galerie Bao, Paris, France, exhibition views. Photo by Tiphaine Babonneau, Courtesy of Galerie Bao.
Eliza Palmer in Conversation with Richie Nath
Eliza Palmer: Why did you decide to go into fashion illustration for your artistic education rather than fine arts ?
Richie Nath: Growing up in Burma, there have always been societal taboos associated with pursuing a career in fine art. At that moment in my life, I knew I wanted to pursue a profession in something creative. I was already going against the line of work my parents expected of me.
I felt going into fashion illustration was a good compromise, as I could easily obtain a more commercial line of work after university while doing what I love, painting figurative works.
Eliza Palmer: Your figurative work depicts what one could consider to be people at a level of extreme physical fitness. Which artists or artworks do you think have directly inspired your style of illustrating the human body in this extremely sculpted aesthetic?
Richie Nath: It comes from my love for the works of Tom of Finland. I’ve always been inspired by classical sculpture, especially of the idealised male form. During my childhood in Burma, there was a lack of resources regarding the arts, whether it was history or exhibitions.
I would have to use whatever limited knowledge or resources I had to find and cultivate my own interests. Being gay in a conservative society, it felt like a cheat code for me to ogle at nude male bodies.
(…)
Featured artist
