The British-American artist Rocco Ritchie, or Rhed, is described by his gallerist as “classically trained in fine art from the age of sixteen.” Rhed embarked on his academic path, studying between New York and London, providing him with his recognisable and distinct painting style. Drawing inspiration from the likes of the early 20th century expressionists, Rhed admires the lifestyle of an artist just as much as the art. After several years of schooling and participating in small, private exhibitions, Rocco has now gone on to establish his independence by co-founding his gallery Maison Rhed with two friends. He credits leaving New York as good motivation. “Moving to London had a huge effect on me. It was the perfect moment; I was shifting gears from a teenage boy to a young man and it pushed me to focus on my passion but to also get out of my comfort zone. I was fortunate enough to know what I wanted to do at a young age and once I had settled into art school, it kick-started my work.”

Before he was discovered to be the artist Rhed himself, the public knew him not only as a second generation of a superstar but also as a sartorial enthusiast. In his eyes, clothing is the perfect way for the wearer to express who they are just like an artist would express themselves through their work. “I think clothing can be a projection of the artist and what they’re inspired by. The photographer Cecil Beaton is one of my biggest style icons and in the 1930s he produced some of the best aesthetic photography for both fashion and art. Salvador Dali was a fabulous painter and distinctively well-dressed. I’ve always tried to present myself to be more than just an artist, to be bold and make a statement, even when I’m not painting. It’s what brought me to wearing a suit, which is usually considered to be a mundane item of dress, but to know what goes on behind making it is where the art lies. It took a tailoring apprenticeship for me to find that out and I’ve got to tell you, I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who design and create clothes.”

In 2018, Rocco Ritchie enrolled at Central Saint Martins, where he studied fine art before moving on to the Royal Drawing School. He confesses that it has been a long learning process. Art requires time to soak in, and it cannot be mastered overnight. “It certainly helped growing up in a house that was passionate about art and culture. Neither of my parents are painters, but both are artists in their own right and they taught me to appreciate and respect it. Their shared fascination eventually piqued my interest and since I can remember I’ve always been surrounded by it.”