Trish and Ric Rioux's journey into the world of art collecting began almost three decades ago during a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they stumbled upon their first original pieces of art. What started as a serendipitous encounter on Canyon Road led to a deep and evolving passion for collecting art, a passion that has shaped their home and lives over the years.
By Sara Beck
Trish and Ric Rioux, who have lived in Wilmington for two years, bought their first pieces of original artwork around thirty years ago on a trip to Santa Fe. The couple hadn’t planned on purchasing art here, but this would change during a walk down Canyon Road, a charming street that’s home to over a hundred galleries. One of the openings they wandered into featured work they immediately fell in love with—the paintings of Mary Dolph Wood, who found the inspiration for her art in her home of Taos, New Mexico. They bought two of her pieces and excitedly hung them in their home, which was in Denver, Colorado at the time. However, this presented an unexpected issue. Up until this point, they had no original art on their walls, only mass-produced reproductions. They recognized the special quality original art holds that a reproduction, doesn't come close to. The only plausible solution, was to start from scratch, introducing only original pieces to their home. This is the story of how their now extensive collection of art began.
Although their journey began with two pieces from the same artist, the Rioux's collection does not favor any one artist or style over another. They describe it as eclectic, not intentionally, but because their taste has evolved over time. As a result of this evolution, their walls are filled with figurative work, southwest art, florals, and landscapes, all intermixed. They’ve even added a pop art portrait of Taylor Swift by Mr. Depalakua, a purchase made to complement two Vincent Xeus portraits of Marilyn Monroe they already owned. “Marilyn was an icon of her time, and Taylor, in a different way, is an icon of our time. So we thought it would be cool to have both icons of different eras,” Trish comments. The closest thing to a common thread throughout their collection is what they call “a little bit of Asian flair,” a preference that may have come from Trish’s mother, who was an army nurse in Japan.
Over the past six years, they’ve begun acquiring abstract art, which they feel enhances the more traditional work they own. Their joint decision-making process is simple: they choose pieces they’re both drawn to. “We both have to love and appreciate a piece to buy it,” Ric says.
The process of acquiring art is something the Riouxs thoroughly enjoy. Meeting artists and getting a sense of who they are is important to them, and these personal connections are the reason all of the pieces in their vast collection hold the same value in their eyes. Because they maintain strong relationships with many of the artists and gallery owners they encounter, they’re often given discounts and access to private sales, and they’ve even been the subjects of paintings. “Sometimes you pay the high price, and sometimes you get lucky. But being involved in the art world makes you the connections that give you those options,” Ric explains. “It’s that fun of give and take,” Trish adds. Despite the deals they often come across, they emphasize that for them, it’s all about falling in love with a piece rather than a price tag. To them, art is not an investment, so making a profit is never a consideration. Similarly, they never consider whether an artist is famous or well-known when deciding to make a purchase—again, if they love the piece, they buy the piece.
Though some of their first purchases are still hanging in their home, they're continually cycling out pieces to make room for new additions. To do this, they donate to charitable organizations such as animal shelters to make space on their walls. A love of art seems to run in the family, so they gift pieces to their grandson on Christmas and his birthday each year. Despite these routines, deciding what will go in order to make room has become increasingly difficult. They joke about moving into a bigger house that has walls similar to those of the Kirkland Museum, which are designed to easily store and move artwork. They have yet to sell or trade any pieces, but they’re now thinking about participating in artist and collector trades. Trish mentions a piece at Fine Art Local, a gallery in downtown Wilmington, that she has her sights on. “I can think of some pieces I would swap for that one,” she says. “That gives another way of bringing in something new without looking at it financially.”
Something the Riouxs are currently thinking about is where their art will go when they’re no longer around. “We love our art and want other people to appreciate it,” Ric emphasizes. “We don’t want it to end up where nobody will see it.” Recently, they started an ongoing conversation with the Cameron Art Museum about donating any pieces the museum is interested in. Though they’re planning for the future, for now they’re as dedicated as ever to their ever-changing collection.
They’ve lived in Wilmington for about two and a half years, which has been enough time to add many pieces from local artists to their home. They explain how anytime something new comes in, it causes a shift. Bringing in one new piece might result in several pieces being moved, changing the entire dynamic of a room. Though there may have been a preconceived idea of where it would go on the walls, final decisions about placement often come as a surprise. They care deeply about how their collection functions as a whole, and sometimes a piece they loved in a gallery simply doesn’t fit in their home. Other times, a slight alteration is needed. “A good frame can also take a piece from good to amazing,” Trish notes, sharing that they reframe 85% of the artwork they buy. Though she doesn’t have a formal background in art or interior design, she has great intuition when it comes to balancing art and seeing how it fits together. “In my next life, I’ll be an interior designer,” she laughs, saying she’s been recruited a few times to help friends rehang their walls.
Beyond their art, which is certainly the focal point of any room, the Riouxs understand the importance of the smallest details in creating a cohesive and beautiful space. Trish sees the entire home, inside and out, as a work of art itself. Every room has its own feel, which is achieved by paying attention to details like wall colors, window coverings, and accent pieces. “Trish has changed everything to be in harmony with the art—down to the door handles, hinges, and light switch covers. Believe me, I know, because I changed them all out!” Ric jokes. “I do the handiwork, but she has the vision. Lots of people comment that they feel like they’re in a museum when they visit because of how everything goes together.”
After learning about all the work that’s been put into growing and maintaining their collection, it’s easy to forget their journey started by chance. Building connections and curating a thoughtful collection takes time, but buying one piece of artwork is possible on any given day. “The minute you buy an original piece of art and appreciate the uniqueness and difference between that and a store-bought piece of art, that can start a lifetime of collecting,” Trish says, recalling her own experience after bringing home those first two Mary Dolph Wood paintings. “You can start small, and little by little you can work your way up.” Ric adds to her sentiment, saying, “If you see even a tiny painting and you love it, buy it. Because that’s how it’s going to start.” He acknowledges that collecting art may not be everybody’s “thing,” but it’s certainly changed his and Trish’s lives.
Trish and Ric Rioux recently joined the newly-founded nonprofit organization Society for the Enjoyment of Art (SEA), the mission of which is to support and encourage the joy and appreciation of the visual arts in and around Wilmington, North Carolina. Trish is the Vice President of SEA and is their director of programs, including the Collectors’ Home Tour. Wilmington art fans had the opportunity to visit her home and see her collection during SEA’s first Collectors’ Home Tour of 2025.
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