Richard Finkelstein has been a designer of scenery, Lighting, and Projections. He has designed new plays for such writers as: John Pielmeier, Hugh Wheeler, and Adrienne Kennedy. His production of Peter Pan, designed for the New York State Theatre Institute toured to Russia in 1989. He also designed the New York and Off-Broadway premiere of Jeffery Sweet's American Enterprise, and the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical, Orphan Train, which was also presented at Grand Central Terminal as part of its 1913, 100th Anniversary Celebration. 

Mr. Finkelstein also has designed for The Colorado Shakespeare Festival. His work as scenery designer for the musical A Tale of Cinderella was widely seen on PBS, Warner Home Video, and during a run in New York City. Mr. Finkelstein designed A Child's Christmas in Wales, for The National Theatre of the Deaf in Hartford Connecticut. He is a winner of numerous critical awards including three Kennedy Center Awards (From ACTF) and The Denver Drama Critics Award. His work was selected by jury for exhibition at the first World Stage Design Exposition in Toronto in 2005 and was selected as well for exhibition at the prestigious Prague Quadrennial in 2007. Mr. Finkelstein is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University (MFA 1977) and Wilkes College (BA 1974)

Mr. Finkelstein has taught at The University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, The University of North Dakota, the State University of New York at Stonybrook, and at the Boulder and Denver campuses of The University of Colorado.

He currently serves as Associate Professor of Stage Design at James Madison University in Virginia.

In addition to his work as a stage designer, Mr. Finkelstein is very active as an arts advocate, having founded seven local, national, and international online arts networks. He has served  on the boards of directors of : The Colorado Arts Consortium (statewide assembly of local arts councils), The Rocky Mountain Section of The United States Institute for Theatre Technology, The Alliance for Colorado Theatre, the Colorado Dance Alliance, and the Boulder Ballet. He has also served on three advisory councils for The Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

As a stage photographer, Mr. Finkelstein's work has been exhibited in major galleries such as the SoHo Gallery in NY City and printed in prestigious publications such as Dance Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Stage Directions, Dance Studio Life, American Theatre, Dance Spirit, and Dancer.  Many books now include is work as both photographer and stage designer. The new 9th edition of Acting is Believing features his work on the cover. Since 2006, Professor Finkelstein has served as the official photographer for the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS. Since 2005 he has served as one of the official photographers for The United States Institute for Theatre Technology USITT.

In 2011 Mr. Finkelstein entered the field of design for virtual performance. For two years he served as the Resident Scenic Designer for the first virtual dance company in history, Ballet Pixelle located in the virtual environment of Second Life.