Richard Black
Born in Missouri and a proud Texan since the 1960s, Richard Black’s path to becoming one of the most celebrated cue makers in the world began not in a workshop, but in boardrooms. With a successful career in sales and finance behind him, Richard entered the world of cue making in 1974—self-taught, driven, and armed only with a dream to create cues of unmatched performance and enduring artistic beauty.
Richard’s earliest cues reflected traditional, classic forms, shaped by trial, error, and relentless experimentation. He had no formal training in the arts, machining, woodworking, or finishing—only an unshakable belief that a cue could be more than a tool; it could be a canvas. He once said, “The cuestick offers a complete challenge in so many ways. Engineering, artistry, imagination. I had to educate myself to be a machinist, to be a finisher, a designer, and a judge of wood.” His cues became a reflection of this all-encompassing vision—combining superior playability with exquisite craftsmanship.
Richard poured 70 to 80 hours a week into his workshop, obsessing over the feel, balance, and tone of every piece. His cues evolved to incorporate rare woods, precious metals, and even gemstones—welded together in dazzling, eclectic, often one-of-a-kind compositions that redefined the phrase “cue art.” A natural-born designer with an artist’s eye for form and color, Richard’s inspirations came from unexpected places: the colors of Gauguin, the structure of Frank Lloyd Wright, the elegance of Art Deco, the innovation of Fabergé eggs, and the functional beauty of Parker pens. Richard's masterpiece, The Gothic Knight, drew its inspiration from a fountain pen and stands as the most expensive cue ever commissioned. The piece features intricate three-dimensional engravings crafted from 18-karat yellow gold and adorned with diamonds, rubies, and vermillion accents.
In the first two decades of his career, Richard focused on creating top-tier playing cues, culminating in winning Best of Show at the first ACA Cue Expo in Houston in 1993. But having mastered the art of performance, he pivoted toward a deeper artistic challenge—designing museum-worthy cues that captivated collectors worldwide. His creation “Chantilly Gold” became a personal favorite, with its sister cue entering the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History as part of their perceived functional art exhibition.
Richard’s artistry earned him widespread acclaim and a permanent place in cue-making history:
• American Cuemakers Association Hall of Fame, 2009
• International Cuemakers Association Hall of Fame, 2017
• Best of Show – ACA International Billiard Cue & Collectibles Show, 1993
• Josswest Prize, International Cue Collectors Show, 2006
• People’s Choice, International Cue Collectors Show, 2007
• Grand Collection – International Cue Collectors Show, 2011, 2012
• Collector’s Choice, International Cue Collectors Show – 2010
• Trailblazer Award – The International Cue Collectors Association, 2017
His cues have been featured in major museums, including solo exhibitions—unprecedented for a cue maker—at:
• Art Museum of Southeast Texas (Beaumont, TX)
• The Grace Museum (Abilene, TX)
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (Houston, TX)
• Muckenthaler Cultural Center (Fullerton, CA)
Richard’s work has also graced the pages of Esquire, Texas Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Chicago Tribune, The Robb Report, and even appeared in the centerfold of Playboy. He was included in the Billiard Encyclopedia and in the Blue Book of Pool Cues. His charisma and craftsmanship earned him spots on television programs such as PM Magazine and Eyes of Texas.
His cues have been played by legends:
• Steve Mizerak, World Straight Pool Champion who wrote in his 1990 Complete Book of Pool, “To Richard Black, for renewing my interest in pool.”
• Jack Colavita, who was buried with his beloved Richard Black cue in 2005.
• Ewa Mataya Laurance, WPA World Nine Ball Champion, Billard Congress Hall of Fame, ESPN Sports Commentator
• Buddy Hall, “The Rifleman” U.S. Open Nine Ball Champion
• Jack “Jersey Red” Breit – One Pocket Hall of Fame
• Takeshi Okumura – WPA World Nine-Ball Champion, Billiard Congress of Japan Hall of Fame
• Billie Billing – First President of the Women’s Professional Billiard Association
• Grady Mathews, “Mr. One Pocket”
More than a craftsman, Richard has been a pillar of the cue-making community—hosting events, mentoring fellow artists, and opening his home and shop to countless enthusiasts, including the unforgettable Cuestock 2014 gathering.
At the heart of Richard’s success was a deep personal partnership with his late wife, Ardis. Her unwavering support, artistic input, business acumen, and role as a loving mother to their two daughters made possible the stable and creative life Richard has always credited as essential to his work.
When asked about retirement, Richard once replied, “Can’t retire because I don’t have a job. I am blessed to be able to do something that I love.” And it shows. For him, the true reward lies not only in the finished cue but in the journey—the quiet joy of concept becoming reality, of seeing collectors’ pride, and knowing his work resonates beyond the game.
As Richard once said, “I like to take Mother Nature’s wood and make it say something special.” Richard’s hope for his legacy is to be known for elevating cue making into an art form, for reshaping the industry, and for leaving behind a legacy as rich and enduring as the cues he created.