Florida Artists Group

  Robert's Bio

Bob is a graduate of Averett University, Danville,Virginia, with an AA degree,  a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (formally Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Greensboro, with a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts. After spending several years as a designer, Illustrator and Art Director for various periodicals and corporations, I returned to my alma mater, Averett University to teach with my mentor, Carson Davenport. After several years as an art professor, I moved to Sanibel Island, Florida and became a founding member of the Barrier Island Group for the Arts, became president of the Florida Artists Group and continued my career as a professor of art. Some other professional opportunities while in Sanibel, Florida were to become an AMA Gallery Director, a committee member for the State of Florida Art in Public Places and the Chairman of the Art in Public Places Board of Lee County, Florida. Among my most memorable art experiences was to mount an exhibition of the works of Robert Rauschenburg followed by an entourage of major contemporary artists. I designed and constructed a large sculpture in weathering steel enabled by an Art in Public Places grant. Another memorable project was a grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to design a museum for the Potawatomi Indians in Shawnee, Oklahoma. 
     After more than thirty years on Sanibel, my wife and I built a second home in North Carolina while maintaining a Florida residence. Nancy surprised me by purchasing two acres of land in the country on which we built a second studio. I continue to exhibit my paintings and sculpture throughout Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.

Artist Statement:

Creating art has been the primary focus in my life. I have always been captivated by the visual phenomena and processes involved in the creation of art. As I work, I am drawn to some tactility, color or shape. I’m happy when it becomes an object which satisfies me. The social interaction between others, my creations and me is ever interesting. 

 Exhibitions:

1956 - National Scholastic Art Award for Watercolor Painting; Exhibited with the Danville Art League.
1957 – 1958 - Exhibited in student exhibitions at Averett University with awards in several annual and local exhibitions in the Danville, Virginia area. Work selected for the permanent collection of Ball State University.
1958 – 1960 - Fellowship exhibition at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; student exhibitions at the Virginia Commonwealth University; exhibitions in the Richmond, Virginia area; National watercolor exhibition in Abingdon, Virginia.
1960 – 1965 - Annual exhibitions of the Richmond, Virginia Advertising Club; exhibited in Fine Arts exhibitions in Virginia and North Carolina.  
1965 – 1966 - One person exhibitions at Averett University and the Junior Wednesday Club in Danville, Virginia. Participant in exhibitions in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia.
1966 – 1971 - One person exhibitions at the High Point, North Carolina Art Association, the University of North Carolina and the Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Virginia.
1971 – 2007 - One person exhibitions in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Port Charlotte, Naples, Cape Coral and Sanibel Island (all in Southwest Florida); The installation of an Art in Public Places sculpture (also in Southwest Florida.)
2007 – 2013 - One person exhibitions and participant in various exhibitions throughout Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and other states (including the prestigious North Carolina Artists Exhibition in Raleigh, North Carolina).