Shreveport artist, local foodie, community advocate: This is Alex Richardson
Many people around Shreveport and Bossier recognize artist and local foodie Alex Richardson for his unique art style and big personality. However, there's more to him than his love of local art and cuisine. At his center there is a deep appreciation for this community and a want to make it even better.
Born and raised in Shreveport, Richardson was diagnosed with ADHD and with that came an enhanced level of creativity and a need to a need to find a way to let it out. In school, Richardson's teachers pushed his artistic development by pulling him out of classes to work on art projects around the schools and encouraging him to enter contests.
"I do remember I got in trouble, and I got sent to detention for like week, because I skipped PE for a month by lying and saying that I was a library assistant," Richardson explained. "I would just go to the library and draw and just work on my own artwork. I would get drawing art books and continue finding different things to draw. I just didn't want to go to PE, and I wanted to draw instead."
This determination to his craft landed Richardson a scholarship after competing in the George Rodrigue Foundation art contest where he was one of the few students from Louisiana to receive it.
Richardson worked his way through Bossier Parish Community College at the BPCC News and graduated in 2018 with an Associate's Degree in Communication Media with a minor in Graphic Design. Now, he's using his degree and talents to give back to students by working with the arts education program for Shreveport-Bossier.
Need Valentine's Day Plans?Here's where to go for a romantic dinner in Shreveport.
In order to get by and pay for school, Richardson took on various odd jobs that ended up aiding his artistic endeavors without him even realizing it. His time working as a carpenter alongside his dad, he learned the art of making cabinets and other home decor, while working at the comic-based t-shirt and comic book store Crew of Tees taught him how to screen print and master Adobe Illustrator.
"I got an internship with the Bossier Arts Council in 2016 and I have been there ever since," Richardson said. "I became the longest-running intern in the Bossier Arts Council's history, because most internships are like 'I learn a little bit of a thing and then I move on to something else', but I just had nothing better going on."
Staying on at the BAC and freelancing on the side soon turned into a full-time position as the marketing coordinator for BAC and he created his graphic design company Dasuq Arts. In addition to these great accomplishments, Richardson was selected as one of Shreveport's 40 Under 40 in 2022. These honorees are chosen for bringing bold, fresh and innovative perspectives to their fields and setting the bar for community engagement and activism.
It's no surprise Richardson was chosen for his artistic endeavors, but he was also chosen for his determination to create a better community here. This need stems from some time spent away from Louisiana in his teen years.
While the majority of his education took place in Shreveport, Richardson spent one year of high school in Grapevine, Texas after his mother moved them to the area. He said that time in Texas was a defining moment in his life.
"It's just one of those parts where you get to move out of a space that you're accustomed to and do something new and it kind of brought a new appreciation for where I came from," Richardson recalled.
One Year Later: 2022 Shreveport Most Influential Woman, Lisa Cronin gives her advice to next award winner
Richardson returned to Shreveport a year later with a new perspective on the place he originally called home. His time in Texas spurred a philanthropic attitude in him after experiencing how little those in better-off communities helped others in need.
With his extroverted nature and want to help others, Richardson has become known in Shreveport-Bossier as someone who always shows up to support local artists, restaurants and events.
From winning the Highland Jazz and Blues Festival art contest to creating the poster for the annual Film Prize, to opening his own digital art show, Richardson had an impressive 2022, but what's next?
"I'm not too sure, there's a part of me that wants to be an art teacher in some way, there's a part of me that would love to go into doing concept art, storyboards, character design and children's books," said Richardson. "Maybe one day I could be like Bill Joyce, who knows. All I know is that I want to be in a spot in my life where I'm still doing artwork. I know there might be a point where I might be behind the executive director desk at the Bossier Arts Council, but just as long as I'm still connected to the world of art in some way, I know that I'll be content."
Keep up with Alex and his art by following his personal Facebook page, the Dasuq Arts Facebook page and his Instagram @dasuq_arts.
Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Learn more about Shreveport's local artist and foodie Alex Richardson
