About Us
Rika Smith Sculpture Conservation specializes in the highest quality conservation treatment of sculpture and three-dimensional works of art, including metals, wood, ceramic, stone, plaster, and modern materials.
Most objects are treated at our spacious, well-equipped conservation studio but we also regularly provide on-site care for objects that are either too large or too fragile to move.
Our Team
Rika Smith, Conservator, has balanced her love of art with her conservation practice for forty years. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and has a master's degree in conservation from the Winterthur/University of Delaware Art Conservation Program. She also has a certificate in conservation from the Harvard University Art Museums and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Her published research includes a study of various wax and plastic coatings to protect outdoor bronze from acid deposition, the inherent causes of deterioration in 15th century French Limoges enamels; and the materials and techniques of the Harvard Glass Flowers and Botanical Models. She has special expertise in bronze and the preservation of modern and contemporary outdoor sculpture, with a focus on Public Art. Rika also provides Pre-Fabrication Conservation Reviews for new commissions, connects clients with fabricators and installers, writes long-term maintenance plans, and provides on-site repairs. She also offers project management for larger-scale fabrications and installations.
Paul Riedl, Conservator, specializes in furniture conservation in his own business Paul Riedl Restoration and Conservation Studio, and works with Rika Smith Sculpture Conservation on historic bronze and contemporary outdoor sculpture. Paul has a BA from the University of Hawaii, an Associates Degree in civil engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology, and has taken courses at the Boston University Preservation Studies Program, the North Bennett Street School, Boston Architectural College, and the National Institute of Wood Refinishing. He is a specialist in bronze patinas and lacquered finishes for wood. Paul is also a Master Gilder, having worked on gilded frames, weathervanes, and sculpture. He apprenticed and worked for the US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and the Northeast Preservation and Cultural Center. His experience focused on historic preservation and restoration of monuments and buildings within the National Park Service using techniques and methods that conformed to the US Secretary of Interior's standards for historic preservation. He has worked with Rika Smith for 25 years. To reach Paul about his furniture and gilding conservation, go to PaulRiedlStudio.com.
Katie Henson, Conservation Technician, received her BFA in sculpture from Massachusetts College of Art in Design in 2021. While in her undergraduate program, Katie found a love for all things metal casting, but specializes in the art of bronze patination. Katie is a foundry technician at Sincere Metalworks, overseeing the patina process for their clients (see Sinceremetalworks.com). When Katie is not working in the shop, she is out in the field assisting in the preservation and restoration of cast metal works. Katie also spends her time creating her own work with a focus on equine artistry for fellow horse enthusiasts.
Nichole Speciale, is an artist, arts administrator and collections care professional who loves lists, spreadsheets, and a problem to solve! Based in the Providence area, she has over 12 years of experience in book preservation and public art conservation. Past roles include leading the Preservation Department at the Brandeis Library, managing the annual Conservation Art Maintenance Program (CAMP) for the Cambridge Arts Council and creating an outdoor public art map for Fidelity Investments. With Rika Smith Sculpture Conservation, she has performed treatments on artwork by Nicole Eisenman, Tony Smith, Lillian Rosenberg, and Louise Nevelson among others. She has an MFA in Visual Art from University of California, San Diego and a double BA in Fine Art and Art History from Brandeis University. Nichole currently serves as the Exhibitions and Collections Manager at Providence College Galleries and engages her love of sustainable gardening as member of the URI Master Gardeners. You can find her artwork at nicholelizspeciale.com.
Our Clients
Boston Public Library
Friends of the Public Garden, Boston
Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University
City of Boston, Parks and Recreation
Edgar Allan Poe Foundation
City of Cambridge, MA
City of Quincy, MA
City of Worcester, MA
City of Newburyport, NH
City of Salem, MA
City of Nashua, NH
deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum
John J. Moakley Federal Courthouse, Boston
Faneuil Hall, Boston
Fenway Park and the Boston Red Sox
Hadley Crow Studio
Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston
Halvorson Design Partnership
Liberty Mutual
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MBTA and The Arlington Street Church
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Arts on the Line
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Pierce Boston
Ray Dunetz Landscape Architecture
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Stonehill College
Building Conservation Associates
Colby College
Phillips Exeter Academy
Yale University
Brown University
Providence RI Department of Art, Culture & Tourism
Town of Candia, NH
Town of Framingham, MA
Town of Provincetown, MA
Town of Rochester, NH
Town of Lebanon, NH
Tufts University
Wellesley College
Numerous Art Galleries and Art Dealers
and Private Clients
Employment / Intern Opportunities
Rika Smith invites conversations with skilled individuals passionate about conservation, seeking to engage in short-term projects from April to October. Pre-program conservation students are offered paid internships focusing on mini-research projects, conducting outdoor sculpture surveys, and implementing various treatment methods. Additionally, local artists frequently join our team, enriching on-site projects with their unique perspectives and talents. Contact Rika at rikasmith24@gmail.com.