Richard Thornton is a descendant of the Yuchi tribe which over the years have almost entirely been assimilated into the Muskogee or Creek Nation. An esteemed architect in the American southeast, his educational background and professional career were large aspects of his inspiration to commit himself to ceramics. His artwork is both an exploration of his ancient ancestry as well as an attempt to show very traditional pottery to contemporary cultures. He concentrates mostly on the southeastern United States cultures around 1000 - 1500 AD. A large selection of his work can be seen in the Fisk Cultural Museum in Waleska, GA. His Indian name is Kvwake-cobi, meaning "Large Mountain Lion.
