Florida Artists Group

Artists Bio:

Robert Clayton Shirk was born in Tarrytown New York in 1952 and grew up in South Florida. The product of a broken marriage, Robert visited his artist father's Manhattan studio during holidays and summer acations. Art had become a frequent form of release and escape from daily adolescent torment.

As a junior in college he needed a break from his business studies and took an elective course in design. Falling in love again with his first passion, he finished college in 1977 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. During college Robert won "Best in Show" awards in various student art shows and was selected into and received an ‘Honorable Mention’ award in the 1976 "Bicentennial American Painters In Paris" show in Paris, France. During this time, Robert’s paintings were created on both sides of clear plexiglass. He found it's transparent flat surface perfect for depicting his hard edge surrealistic landscapes.

For the next 10 years Robert was selling his paintings in South Florida galleries. He was also working part time as a graphic designer with various advertising agencies. Putting down his paintbrush in 1987, Robert got married and took a full time job as Art Director at a Coral Springs agency. Five years later in 1992 he started a successful marketing business that he ran with his wife for 23 years. In 2015, a couple of years after moving to North East Florida, Robert sold his business and was free to go back to his roots and paint.

Since coming back to painting, Robert’s artwork has become more figurative and uses multiple sheets of layered plexiglass. Each sheet of clear plexiglass contains a part of the final image. The effect creates a 3 dimensional kinetic image that moves and changes as the viewer’s perspective changes.


Artist Statement:

My figurative paintings are created on multiple sheets of layered plexiglass. Each sheet of clear plexiglass contains a part of the final image. The effect creates a 3 dimensional kinetic painting that moves and changes as the viewer’s perspective changes.

I’ve been influenced by the 1960’s optical and kinetic art of Israeli artist Yaacov Agam. Also the French Pointillist painters of the 1880’s, American photorealist painter Chuck Close, and the dramatic lighting of Dutch master Rembrandt van Ryan.

My aesthetic focus is to create an image of drama, beauty and sensuality. Not just with the subject matter, but with the composition, materials and application of color. An image that is fun to view with unexpected surprises.

I love watching the dance and delight of the viewers eyes wile discovering the movement, harmony and depth created by layer upon layer of images in my paintings. I am constantly reinventing the way I create images. Always searching for a playful bridge between the 3 dimensions of sculpture, and the 2 dimensions of painting.

Education:
Florida Atlantic University. B.F.A, Studio Painting, 1977.


Exhibitions:

2019 - Museum of Arts & Sciences, Beaux Arts of Central Florida "Synchronicity Exhibition" Daytona, FL
2019 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "Figuratively Speaking" Daytona, FL
2019 - Saint Augustine Art Association "2019 Honors Show" Saint Augustine, FL
2019 - The Casements, Beaux Arts of Central Florida "Art is why I wake up in the morning" Exhibition, Ormond Beach, FL
2019 - Florida Artist Group "2019 Symposium Exhibition" Ringling College of Art & Design Sarasota, FL
2019 - Beaux Arts of Central Florida "Symbiosis Exhibition" Bloomingdale's Orlando, FL
2019 - Saint Augustine Art Association "Members Spring Exhibition" Saint Augustine, FL
2019 - ArtistsRegistry.com "Members Juried Exhibition" Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL
2019 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "All Creatures Great And Small" Daytona, FL
2019 - Orlando Museum of Art Juried Exhibit "The Power of She" Orlando, FL
2019 - Flagler County Art League "Anything Goes Exhibit" Palm Coast, FL
2019 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "January Members Show 2019" Juried Exhibition Daytona, FL
2019 - Saint Augustine Art Association “Figures & Portraits” Juried Exhibition Saint Augustine, FL
2018 - Flagler Art League "Winter Show 2018" Juried Exhibition Palm Coast, FL
2018 - Beaux Arts of Central Florida "Members Exhibition 2018" Juried Exhibition Daytona, FL
2018 - Flagler Art League "Members Fall Show 2018" Juried Exhibition, Palm Coast, FL
2018 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "Members Show 2018" Juried Exhibition, Daytona, FL
2018 - Saint Augustine Art Association "Members Fall Exhibition” Juried Exhibition, Saint Augustine, FL
2018 - Mills Gallery "Summer Exhibit" Juried Exhibition, Orlando, FL
2018 - Arts on Douglas "Endless Summer Exhibition" Juried Exhibition, New Smyrna, FL
2018 - Downtown Orlando Arts District "AQUA Art Miami - Preview Exhibition" Orlando, FL
2018 - Saint Augustine Art Association "Nature & Wildlife” Juried Exhibition, Saint Augustine, FL
2018 - Orlando Museum of Art Juried Exhibit "Open Call" Orlando, FL
2018 - Saint Augustine Art Association "Honors Show" Juried Exhibition, Saint Augustine, FL
2018 - Arts on Granada "Shirk & Richley Art Show" Ormond Beach, FL
2018 - Orlando Museum of Art "The Art Of Fashion" Juried Exhibition, Orlando, FL
2018 - Orlando Museum of Art "The Art Of The Selfie" Juried Exhibition, Orlando, FL
2018 - Saint Augustine Art Association "Faces & Figures" Juried Exhibition, Saint Augustine, FL
2018 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "Members Show 2018" Juried Exhibition, Daytona, FL
2017 - ArtistsRegistory.com "Members” Juried Exhibition, CityArts Factory Orlando, FL
2017 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "Members Showcase 2017" Juried Exhibition, Daytona, FL
2017 - The Alfond Inn "Lifestyle Magazine Art Competition" Juried Exhibition, Winter Park, FL
2017 - CityArts Factory "Art Right MEOW" Orlando, FL
2017 - The Falcon "Pin-up Art & Photography" Juried Exhibition, Orlando, FL
2017 - Art League Of Daytona Beach "Figuratively Speaking 2017" Juried Exhibition, Daytona, FL
2017 - Flagler Art League "Go Figure" Juried Exhibition, Palm Coast, FL
2008 - Broward Art Guild "Salon des Refuses" Juried Exhibition, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1977 - Parker Playhouse Art Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1977 - FL Atlantic University "Student Show" Juried Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL
1976 - ARGRAF "American Painters In Paris" Juried Exhibition, Paris, France
1974 - FL Atlantic University "Student Show" Juried Exhibition, Boca Raton, FL

Institutional Collections:

Portrait of Benoit Glazer. Timucua Arts Foundation. Orlando FL, Donated 2018.
Portrait of Petra Iston. Salvo Art Project. Bunnell FL, Donated 2017.
Publications and Media:
"In Sync: Local artists to showcase work at MOAS" Ormond Beach Observer. July 23, 2019.
“What Wakes Me Up.” Ormond Beach Observer. June 6, 2019. Page 19.
"Always Experimenting." Ormond Beach Observer. March 1, 2018. Page 11.
"Lifestyle's Art Contest." Central Florida Lifestyle Magazine. September 2017, Pages 30-31.
"Seven Arts: One Tool-Two Concepts." Florida Fiesta. January 1977. Pages 10-11, 42.
"An Artist Of Maturity, Craftsmanship." Ft. Lauderdale News & Sun-Sentinel. May 30, 1976. Page 11E.


Honors and Awards:

Achievement Award. "Figuratively Speaking" Art League of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit,
Daytona Beach, FL. 2019
Honorable Mention Award. "Members Spring Exhibition" Saint Augustine Art Association Juried Exhibit, Saint Augustine, FL. 2019
Second Place Award. "All Creatures Great And Small" Art League of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit,
Daytona Beach, FL. 2019
Best Of Show. "Winter Show 2018" Flagler County Art League Juried Exhibit, Palm Coast, FL. 2018
First Place Award. "Members Show 2018" Beaux Arts 57 Juried Exhibit, Daytona Beach, FL. 2018
Distinction Award. "Members Fall Show 2018" Flagler Art League Juried Exhibit, Palm Coast, FL. 2018
Merit Award. "Members Show 2018" Art League of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit, Daytona Beach, FL. 2018
Honorable Mention Award. “Members Fall Exhibition” Saint Augustine Art Association Juried Exhibit, Saint Augustine, FL. 2018
Distinction Award. "Members' Show 2018" Art League of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit,
Daytona Beach, FL. 2018
Best Of Show Award. "The Art Of The Selfie" Orlando Museum of Art Juried Exhibit, Orlando, FL. 2018
Honorable Mention Award. "Faces & Figures" Saint Augustine Art Association Juried Exhibit,
St. Augustine, FL. 2018
Distinction Award. "Members' Show 2018" Art League of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit,
Daytona Beach, FL. 2018
Honorable Mention Award. "Members Juried Exhibition" ArtistsRegistory.com, Orlando, FL. 2017
Honorable Mention Award. Art League Of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit, Daytona Beach, FL. 2017
Recognition Award. Art League Of Daytona Beach Juried Exhibit, Daytona Beach, FL. 2017
2ed Place Award. Flagler Art League Juried Exhibit, Palm Coast, FL. 2017
2ed Place Award. Broward Art Guild Juried Exhibit, Ft Lauderdale, FL. 2008
Best Of Show Award. FL Atlantic University Juried Exhibit, Boca Raton, FL. 1977
Honorable Mention Award. American Painters In Paris Juried Exhibit, Paris, France. 1976
Best Of Show Award. FL Atlantic University Juried Exhibit, Boca Raton, FL. 1974

Affiliations & Memberships:

Florida Artists Group, Joined 2018
Beaux Arts, Joined 2018
Saint Augustine Art Association, Joined 2017
ArtistsRegistory.com, Joined 2017
Downtown Arts District of Orlando, Joined 2017
Art League Of Daytona Beach, Joined 2017
Flagler County Art League, Joined 2017

Additional video's can be found on his site Here