Richard Fitzgerald has spent his life in Southwestern Colorado surrounded by the Anasazi ruins and culture. Their ancient pottery forms have a strong influence on his work in wood. His materials include the finest native woods of Southwestern Colorado and the western United States - aspen, tamarisk, box elder, maple, and buckeye burl.

Using the prime portions of the tree insures the uniqueness of Fitzgerald's work. Wood selected from the crotches or crowns of trees, spalted wood, burls, and wormhole wood are accented with inlay of turquoise or malachite and completed with a hand rubbed finish.

On April 15, 2005 Fitzgerald will be honored at a reception at Winona State University in Minnesota, where twelve of his most recent works are selected for the university's distinctive permanent collection of Southwestern Art.