Armendariz was born in El Paso, Texas. He received his BFA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and MFA from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2008, Armendariz received the Artpace Supplemental Travel Grant for travel to Mexico City, and in 2013, he was selected to participate as the Artist-in-Residence in the Blue Star Contemporary Berlin Residency Program in partnership with Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, Germany.

In 2017, Armendariz was selected to be the first Artist-in-Residence for the DoSeum in San Antonio, Texas. In 2017 and again in 2022, Armendariz was a selected to be an Artist-In-Residency at Anderson Ranch, Snowmass Village, Colorado.

His artistic and conceptual aesthetic is heavily influenced by growing up near the U.S./Mexico border. Images that have cultural, biographical and art historical references are carved and burned into the surface of his paintings, drawings, and prints. Greek and Mesoamerican mythology plays an important part in the artist’s exploration of the complex relationship between humans and animals. As a figurative artist, Armendariz enjoys playing with traits of human anatomy and identifying possible connections with characteristics found in animals that allow a deeper understanding of humanity.

Armendariz’s artworks can be found in prestigious collections, including the Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO; Davis Museum, Wellesley, MA; Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX; San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, TX and The McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX.

Richard, 'Ricky' Armendariz, Fool for Love, 2023,Signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left, Woodblock print, 26 x 22 in, 66 x 55.9 cm, Edition of 10.

Richard 'Ricky' Armendariz, Novios, Sagittarius, 2022, Signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left, Woodblock print, 20 x 20 in, 50.8 x 50.8 cm, Edition of 5.

Richard 'Ricky' Armendariz, The Predicament, 2023, Signed and dated lower right, numbered lower left, Oil on carved birch wood, 49.75 x 30.5 in, 126.4 x 77.5 cm