Robert Walker
Artwork
Artwork
Exhibitions
Artist Statement
Art is how creative people make sense of the world. What better time to make art than in the midst of a world pandemic? Life and death. Art reminds us that civilization rises in spite of the absurdities of human experience. Surely the role of the artist is to show the world how to see and even to offer access to a symbolic and spiritually motivated visual world of beauty.
My practice relies on the distillation of various elements found within the iconographic systems of primarily Eastern belief systems. Raised in a Christian fundamentalist family, I began a search for less rigid systems of belief. Deconstructing the diverse vocabularies found within this source has helped me attain a new and vibrant visual aesthetic.
Since what we term “reality” is never fixed, the relationship between the viewer and the object is aways shifting; I strive to express that immaterial vitality. I do not want to simply create diverting optical illusions, but rather to challenge the viewer to question what they know and what they think that they know I hope that in the sharing of these paintings I can encourage the viewer’s participation in the search for a universal truth.
Gallery Statement / Profile
Robert Walker is a los Angeles based artist and art historian. He was born in Los Angeles and received his MFA from the University of California at Irvine.
He taught art history at the college level for 25 years and has lectured at universities in both the US, Japan and Thailand and numerous museums in So. California.
Walker first exhibited his work in 1975 at the La Jolla Museum of Art. In his 45 year practice he has fabricated paintings and sculpture that reveal his deep interest in Eastern religions and practices. Coming from a strict fundamentalist background he very early sought alternatives to this restrictive view. Walker has had a long-standing foundation in process-oriented art. When process work functions at a high level it moves toward its own autonomy calling attention to the meditative labor involved in its construction
His sculpture and drawing have been included in numbers exhibitions throughout the United States, Japan, Thailand, and Cambodia. His work in included in a number of museums and prominent public and private collections and he has received a number of awards and fellowships.
He has long been a social activist in the artistic community of Los Angeles, founding programs both for homeless artists and for artists with AIDS and HIV. He has served on the board of a number of LA non-profit organizations and currently serves as the president of LAArtcore and is a commissioner for the city of Redlands Cultural Arts Commission.
CV/BIO
EDUCATION
1971 M.F.A., University of Calif., Irvine
(Painting and Sculpture)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 Jason Vass Gallery, Los Angeles, “Robert Walker: Retrospective: Rhebis”, 2019
2016 Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan
2014 Heather James Fine Arts, Palm Desert, Calif.
2013 Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan
2012 Heather James Fine Art, Jackson, Wy.
2011 Heather James Fine Arts, Palm Desert, Calif.
2007 Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan
Solway Jones, Los Angeles
2006 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
2004 Gallery Gen, Tokyo, Japan
2002 Double Vision Gallery, Los Angeles, Calif.
1996 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
1994 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
1991 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
1990 Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
1987 Saxon-Lee Gallery, Los Angeles
1984 Kirk deGooyer Gallery, Los Angeles
1983 Kirk deGooyer Gallery, Los Angeles
1983 Riverside Museum, Riverside, Calif.
1982 Tom Luttrell Gallery, San Francisco
1981 Kirk deGooyer Gallery, Los Angeles
Quint Gallery, La Jolla, California
1980 Kirk deGooyer Gallery, Los Angeles
1977 Newspace Gallery, Los Angeles
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2020 “Small is Beautiful”, group show, Irvine Cultural Arts Center, Irvine, calif.
2016 Gallery Kinasa, “Nagano Earthquake Exhibition-Fundraiser”
2015 ‘Wavelength: the Art of Light”, group show, The University of Arizona Museum of Art. Tucson, Arizona
2014 "Mitsunori Kurashiga, Toyoko Katsumata & Robert Walker,” LAArtcore, Los Angeles
2013 “Franklyn Liegel Memorial Exhibition”, group show, LAArtcore, L.A.
“Reclaim, Revival from a Disaster”, group show, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo, Japan
2012 “Mind Games” Andrew Shire
“The Big Picture”, group show, Palm Springs Art Fair
“Group Show”, Korea International Art Fair, Andrew Shire Gallery, Seoul, Korea
2011 “Toyoko Katsumata, Mathew Thomas & Robert Walker”, L.A. Artcore
“Best Kept Secrets”, Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, Calif.
“Groups”, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
2010 “Obsession”, Heather James, Palm Springs
“Mind Games” ,Andrew Shire Gallery, Los Angeles
“Overtones II”, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum, Yokahama, Japan
2009 “Cool! Cool! Cool!”, Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
“LAArtcore artists”, Jones Art Gallery, Bakersfield College.
“Musashino International Exchange Exhibition”, Musashino University, Tokyo
“International Exchange Exhibition, College of the Canyons & Musashino University”, LAArtcore, Los Angeles.
2008 “International Contemporary Art Exhibition for His Majesty the King, 2008,” Sangkhla, Thailand
“International Art Exchange, Thailand-U.S.A.,” Thailand Culture Center, Bangkok, Thailand
“International Art Exchange, Thailand-U.S.A.,” Eastern Center of Art and Culture, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
“International Art Exchange, Thailand-U.S.A.,” LAArtcore, Los Angeles
“Eye Candy”, Cypress Community College Art Gallery
2007 “Group Show”, Gallery Kingya, Tokyo, Japan
“Themes and Variations – New Abstraction in Los Angeles,” Torrance Art Museum, Torrance
“Cross current – The 1st International Exchange Exhibition: US- Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
“Cross current – The 1st International Exchange Exhibition: US- Japan, LAArtcore, Los Angeles
“Modernism Today.” Los Angeles International Airport, Tom Bradley Building.
“Grand Gestures: the Gordon Hampton Collection,” University Art Museum, Calif. State Univ., Long Beach
“Relationships”, Jean albano Gallery, Chicago
“Group Show,” Scope Miami, Miami Beach
“Interespaces,” Solway Jones, Los Angeles
“Good to Go,” Newspace Gallery, Los Angeles.
“Scapes,” Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, Ill.
2005 “Group Show,” Srinakharinvirot University, Bangkok, Thailan
“Group Show,” Eastern Center of Art & Culture, Burapha Univ., Conburi, Thailand
“Eye Tattoos” Quint Contemporary Art, San Diego
2004 “International Art Exhibit: Thailand-U.S.A.,” Thailand Cultural Center, Bangkok, Thailand
“International Art Exhibit: Thailand-U.S.A.,” Buraphar University, Conburi,Thailand
“Artcard,” Sharjah Art Museum, United Arab Emirates
“The Red Pen,” Santa Ana College at the Santora Building, Santa Ana,Calif
“Holiday Group Show,” Ruth Bachoffner, Los Angeles, Calif.
“Painting the Town Red,” Jean Albano, Chicago, Ill.
“Simmer, Summer, Shimmer,” Domestic Setting, Los Angeles, Calif.
“Crosscurrents International Exchange Exhibition,” L.A. Artcore, Los Angeles, Calif.
“Robert Walker and Gary Szymanski,” TransAmerica Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif.
“January White Sale,” Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago, Ill.
“Zone,” Cerro Coso Community College, Ridgecrest, Calif.
“Robert Walker, Coleen Sterritt, & Kristan Marvel," LAArtcore, Los Angeles
“OverTone” Kanagawa Prefectral Museum, Yokahama, Japan
2001 “Crosscurrents International Exchange Exhibition,” Fukuoka Museum, Kyushu, Japan
“Modernism Now”, Municipal Art Gallery at the Bradley Terminal, LAX.
“Crosscurrents International Exchange Exhibition,” Kitakyushu Municipal Museum, Kyushu, Japan
“Secret Formula,” Santa Ana College at the Santora Building, Santa Ana, Calif.
“Lessons,” College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, Calif.
1999 “Group Show,” Fresh Paint, Los Angeles, Calif.
1998 “The Bean Show,” Dirt, Hollywood, Calif.
1997 "Two of a Kind," Jean Albano Gallery, Chicago
"Against the Wall," College of the Canyons Art Gallery, Santa Clarita, California
1995 "Abstraction - toward the new Millenium," Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles
1992 “Group Show,” Marx Gallery, Chicago
1991 “Retrospective,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery
1988 "Group Show," Saxon-Lee Gallery, Los Angeles
1987 "From the Back Room," Saxon-Lee Gallery, Los Angeles
1986 "A Southern California Collection," Cirrus Gallery, Los Angeles
"New Acquisitions," Gallery at the Plaza, Security Pacific National Bank, Los Angeles
"A Collector's Eye – Paintings from the Colletion of Gordon Hampton," Gallery at the Plaza, Security Pacific National Bank, Los Angeles
"California Contemporary," Opening Exhibition, Laguna Art Museum
1985 “The Designer as Diner,” Mark Krasne Showroom, Los Angeles
1984 “The Cotton Exchange Show,” Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), Los Angeles
1981 "California Artists," Tower Gallery, South Hampton, New York
"Painted Wall Constructions," Security Pacific Plaza, Los Angeles
"Nine on the Wall," California State University, Fullerton
"Robert Walker, N'ima Leveton, Gena Cooper," Kirk deGooyer Gallery, Los Angeles
1978 "Patterns, Structures, Grids," California State Univeristy, San Bernardino
"Group Retrospective," Los Angeles, County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery
1977 "Plastic Perspective," Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation (catalog)
"Marisa Alexander, Tom Holste, Robert Walker," El Camino College Art Gallery, Torrance, Calif.
“Big Summer Show”, Newspace, Los Angeles
1976 “Group Show,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery
1976 Big Prints and Little Paintings," Tortue Gallery, Santa Monica, California
1975 "The Irvine Milleau," La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, California
"The First Decade," Fine Arts Gallery, University of California, Irvine, California
1971 Group Graduate Show, University of California, Irvine
At Home, F Space Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
Opening Group Show, F Space Gallery, Santa Ana, CA
Awards
2014 CCF Quick Grant for Professional Development
1989 Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department Grant to APLA for Robert Walker’s “Artists With AIDS” project
1984 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Art Rental Gallery Commission
1978 Maket Street Program, Venice, Calif. One of 3 artists founders, funded by Calif. Council for the Arts.
1969-1971 Fellowship, Univ. of Calif, Irving
Professional Affiliations and Activities
City of Redlands Cultural Affairs Commission current position
LAArtcore 14 years of service, current board chair
Beyond Baroque 3 years of service, Vice President
Los Angeles Arthouse 1 year of service
LACE 7 years of service, 5 as board chair and 1 year as Acting Director
Maket Street Program, Venice, Calif. One of 3 artists founders, funded by Calif. Council for the Arts.
F Space Founder, Alternative Space for Artists in Costa Mesa, Calif.
Selected Publications
2018 “Robert Walker, Retrospective: Rhebis” exhibition catalog
2012 Kook-Anderson, Grace, “Best Kept Secrets”, exhibition catalog, Laguna Museum of Art
Julie King, “Uncovering inspiration with Each Step”, Jackson Hole Weekly, August 1
Niner, Katy, “New Process Culminates in Meditative Art”, Jackson Hole News & Guide, August 1
2011 “LA Studio Visit: Robert Walker” Nancy Buchanan, Artillery, Jan/Feb. Kienholz, Lyn “L.A.Rising, SoCal Artists Before 1980”
2010 “Obsession”, Catalog, Heather James, Palm Springs
“Overtones”, catalog, Kanagawa Prefectural Museum, Yokahama, Japan Review, Korean Times, article 617191
2009 “International Contemporary Art Exhibition for His Majesty the King”, Exhibition catalog, Bangkok, Thailand Culture Center, Bangkok, Thailand
2008 Laem Samila, Sangkhla, Thailand. Catalog
“International Art Exchange, Thailand-U.S.A.,” Thailand Culture Center, Bangkok, Thailand. Catalog
“International Art Exchange, Thailand-U.S.A.,” Eastern Center of Art and Culture, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand. Catalog
2007 “Torrance Art Museum Puts a multimedia spin on its Artistic Themes,” Jim Farber, Daily Breeze, Sept. 21
“Robert Walker at Solway Jones,” Constance Mallison, Art in America, December
“Appropriate Technologies”, Collete Chattopadhyay, catalog essay, Solway Jones Gallery
“Grand Gestures: the Gordon Hampton Collection,” University Art Museum,Calif. State Univ., Long Beach. catalog
2004 “Art for All,” Samila Suttisiltum. Bangkok Post, Jan 15 Robert Walker – page 5
“Bridging the Cultural Divide,” Andrew F. West. Bangkok Post, Jan 15
“Art Bridge to America,” Nation, January 12
“Art Column,” Tha/Rath, January 9
“Art & Culture,” Daily News, January 11 Bullis, Douglas. West Coast Artists
2002 Nishimura, Tomohiro. “Overtone-The Fourth Dimension in Art,” Catalog essay
Takeshita, Lydia. “Overtone,” Catalog essay
1987 McKenna, Kristine. “Galleries,” Los Angeles Times
1983 Pincus, Robert L. “Galleries,” Los Angeles Times, January 7, 1983
1982 Muchnic, Suzanne. “Galleries,” Los Angeles Times, February 19, 1982
Menzies, Neal. “Joyous Dichotomies,” Artweek, May 22, 1982
Seymour, Ann. “Robert Walker at Tom Luttrell,” Centervoice, June 1982,
Stofflet, Mary. “Robert Walker at Tom Luttrell,” Images & Issues Magazine, Sept/Oct. 1982
1981 Wilson, William. “The Wall: Not Just To Hang Pictures”, Los Angeles Times, February 27, 1981
Muchnic, Suzanne. “Galleries”, Los Angeles Times, March 6, 1981
Menzies, Neal. “Dimensionality Through Form and Paint”, Artweek, March 21,
Brown, Lora & Jane Pence, “Against the Wall,” Cal State Univ., Fullerton, Catalog
Wortz, Melinda. “Los Angeles”, Artnews, June, 1981
1977 Muchnic, Suzanne. “Work in Plastic Opens New L.A. Art Center”, Artweek, September 17, 1977
Wilson, Willilam. “Artwalk”, Los Angeles Times, Dec. 16, 1977
Wyman, Jack. “Three Southern California Artists”, Dailey Breeze, Long Beach Nov. 22, 1977
1975 Wortz, Melinda. “ U.C.Irvine”, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, catalaogue essay.
Professional Activities
City of Redlands Cultural Affairs Commission, current position
LAArtcore, 14 years of service, current board chair
Beyond Baroque, 3 years of service, Vice President
Los Angeles Arthouse, 1 year of service
LACE, 7 years of service, 5 as board chair and 1 year as Acting Director
Patric Media, juror for billboard competition
Homeless Artist Workshop, initiated program with LACultural Affairs Dept
Art Workshop for People with Aids, Initiated and taught the first art program for AIDS Patients in Los Angeles
Maket Street Program, Venice, Calif. One of 3 artists founders, funded by Calif. Council for the Arts.
F Space Founder, Alternative Space for Artists in Costa Mesa, Calif.
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Donna and Cargill MacMillan Jr.
Palm Springs Museum
Eastern Center of Art & Culture, Burapha Univ., Chonburi, Thailand
Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University
Gordon Hampton Collection, Cal State Long Beach Museum of Art
SWU Collection, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumvit, Thailand
U.C.L.A. Medical Center
Toshiba
I.B.M.
Itel
Loyola Law School
Scripts
ARCO
Wells Fargo
Atlantic Records
Toshiba
Sheraton Corporation
T.R.E.
Irvine Hilton
Tuttle and Taylor
Ziffren, Brittman and Branca
Security Pacific
Gin Wong Associates
Cedars-Sinai
Palm Springs Hilton
Spalding Radiology Center
Hyatt Regency, Nashville
A T & T
Executive Life
Prudential
Westinghouse
Hyatt Regency, Capital Square, Columbus, Ohio
Dior, Paris
Sheppard, Muller, Richter & Hampton
McKenzie & Co.
Anderson Consulting
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