Genesis by: Richard L. Yaco (b. 1942)
 Alkyd & Oil on Canvas
 Mother and Child by the Sea 44Lx32H

Yaco's command of alkyd and oil creates remarkable depth and atmosphere. His disciplined brushwork and structural clarity reflect a lifetime of serious training and experience. At 83, Yaco stands apart not only as a painter, but as one of only two artists recruited into the United States Marine Corps as official combat artists during the Vietnam War. Sgt. Yaco served a full tour in 1968, participating in the Tet Offensive and producing more than 300 works documenting Marine Corps operations. His painting Hill 174 is held in the permanent collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and his work is represented within the Smithsonian Institution. Beyond his military legacy, Yaco has produced an extensive body of figurative and landscape works and has authored and illustrated numerous published titles. Genesis is a museum-level statement — a work of emotional depth backed by documented American history and institutional recognition.