Robert Solomon — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

My name is Robert Solomon and I have been a creator for most of my life. I have a broad education for which I feel is an advantage for any artist. I have explored performance art, automated theatre, installation art, printmaking, sculpture and design. I now make paintings. I live in Philadelphia, PA and Greenwich, New Jersey where I have my studio. I was born December 25, 1949 and now understand my parents knew more about me than I knew about myself. I sincerely believe failure is a crucial experience for any artist: it prepares one for life events and the necessary growth of an artist. I have participated in many group and individual shows over the years and I am a fellow of several residencies. I have won the Hopper Prize for my work and have been interviewed by important art magazines. I am a former member of The Painting Center, NY and Inliquid, Philadelphia. I am represented by Mariana Custodio agent/curator in London and Lisbon.

Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art-making?

My name is Robert Solomon. I am a painter. My earliest experience art-wise was accompanying my father and uncle to MoMA to see Jean Tingley’s sculptures.

My first art making experiences occurred during the first month or two of my freshman year at Penn State U. : rolling a heavy steel foil roll down a hill; organising a "Living Seder" with the school's resident poet.

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

I would describe my 17-18 y. experiences as formative: watching Marat/Sade at school theatre, reading Nietzsche "Birth of Tragedy", watching Antonioni "Blow Up", my first sexual experiences with women.

I am a sponge and absorbed everything I could.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I get inspiration from books, movies, walking in the woods, daydreaming, sometimes music.

What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

Emotion+motion glad you asked: I reached my peak plucking the heartstrings with my automated Theatre in the late 70's and early 80's. It took many years before I was able to do the same thing with my paintings.

When do you know that an artwork is finished?

I can feel an artwork or painting coming to a close and I get better at knowing where to stop with time. I think faster about my nest steps now and can avoid many missteps and false starts.

What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

The most exciting event was an automated theatre piece "Sleepwalkers" and the rock band that followed the opening.

How long does it take to produce one work?

Time it takes to finish a piece: less than a month.

What exciting projects are you working on right now? Can you share some of the future plans for your artwork?

I am working on a curated show and word from Philadelphia Museum of Art for a small show of my work and selected pieces from the Museum's collection. I am also working with my agent/curator in London and Lisbon.