Born in the Panama Canal Zone, Richard Prince emerged as a key figure in the 1980s New York art scene. He gained early recognition for his Untitled (Cowboy) series, which involved rephotographing existing advertisements to isolate and elevate the archetypal American figure, effectively challenging traditional notions of authorship and originality.

Prince’s practice centers on the appropriation of mass-media imagery, including fashion models, luxury goods, and social media posts. By stripping these images of their original commercial context, he exposes the constructed nature of desire and the pervasive influence of media in contemporary life. His work spans photography, painting, and collage, often incorporating text and digital artifacts.

His career has been marked by major institutional surveys at venues such as the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Most recently, he is slated to participate in a dual exhibition with Arthur Jafa at the Fondazione Prada in Venice, coinciding with the 2026 Venice Biennale.