The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts () is sponsoring an eight-year traveling exhibition across the country of ten of Rick Hyman’s family historical paintings entitled, “The Riches of Family: An American Journey from Slavery to Prosperity.” Rick Hyman is preserving his family history by painting scenes from his treasured collection of 300 vintage family photographs (known as the Family Historical Series), all taken from 1912-1927 in LaGrange and Warrenton, Texas.  His lifetime goal is to paint all 300 photographs.  Hyman paints with acrylic on canvas and rag paper. Gifted from birth, Hyman has been painting since he was three years old. A native of Washington, D.C., when he was in elementary school, his class frequently took trips to The National Gallery of Art, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the National Portrait Gallery.  This made a major impact on Hyman‘s creativity in the visual arts.

Rick Hyman’s resides in Los Angeles, California with his muse and wife, Ronda Hyman. Ronda encouraged him to go professional with his painting in 1996.  He consults with her on every painting.  Besides being very much in love, they work as a team in every aspect of their lives.  On February 14, 2006, Rick and Ronda Hyman were honored with a Resolution award on the Assembly Floor at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California for their historical paintings and their book, “My Texas Family: An Uncommon Journey to Prosperity.”

Rick Hyman’s artwork has been recognized by Bill Cosby.  A reproduction of Hyman’s first historical family painting from the 1920’s titled, “My Texas Family” hangs on the living room wall set of the television sitcom, “Cosby.”  This image is also on the cover of their book. (Click here to see this painting in our Limited Edition prints' section.)

Hyman also paints landscape scenes, musical icons, portraits and cubist art images.  He is often commissioned to paint family portraits from photos, as well as theme scenes for national events.

The Untied States Postal Service (USPS) placed one of the Hyman‘s historical family paintings, “From These Beginnings” on a commemorative envelope and postcard and offered them for sale to the public during the month of February, 1998 for
Union Station’s 90^th anniversary in Washington, D.C.
(sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women).