Robert J Wilkens
Universal City, TX
I've worked 32 years as an artist. It is the only thing that makes me happy. I want to die with a brush in my hand.
MessageRobert Wilkens is blessed to be a purgatory artist; seeing two worlds and trapped in neither. Born Roberto (Toto) Alonso Dorantes, his adoption at age eleven, provides his Anglo name. Robert resolved to be an artist at age 23.
Inspired by Michelangelo and DaVinci, he began his work doing murals and trompe l'oeil. His commissions are in Texas churches, businesses, homes, and culminated with the Theater Room of the White House for First Lady Laura Bush, His work is collected throughout the United States and Mexico.
He remains open and continues to develop a diverse range of styles, subject matters, and mediums, including sculpture, plein air, portraits, still life, and is known in San Antonio for his Day of the Dead paintings.
Determined to find his own voice as an artist, his current work uses realism, surrealism, and expressionism in an attempt to expand consciousness and challenge intellectual reality.
AWARDS
2nd Place for Standing Strong, Plein Air Brush Creek Art Walk, Kansas City, MO
1st Place for Surfing the Net, Sienna Art Festival, Sienna, TX
Best of Show, Boca Raton Fine Art Show, Boca Raton, FL
Merchants Award for Irish Eyes, Richardson Fine Arts Show, Richardson, TX
PUBLICATIONS
Plein AIr Magazine, 2019
Architectural Digest, 2002
GROUP and SOLO SHOWS
92nd All-Texas Juried Exhibition, San Antonio Art League Museum, TX
64th National Juried Art Exhibition, Rocky Mount, NC
56th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Richardson Civic Center, TX
Lubbock Arts Festival, Juried Gallery, Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, TX
Bell Gallery, Beloit Art Center, Wisconsin
GALLERIES
SAAC, La Canterra Gallery, San Antonio, TX
CONTACT
Robert Wilkens (210) 260-1168, [email protected]
PURCHASE
www.robert-wilkens.square.site
https://store.gallerysa.com/product-category/artist/robert-j-wilkens
Statement
Art is how I give value and worth to my life. A way to quench the injustices I grew up with as a dyslexic, Mexican-American. My hunger for knowledge went unsatisfied until I discovered audiobooks at age 38. The knowledge I’ve gained is symbolized in my use of lightbulbs, birds, butterflies and the moon. Lightbulbs represent Edison’s refusal to give up despite thousands of failures. Birds and butterflies acknowledge a higher power through the simple beauty of flight, a daily miracle often ignored. The moon demonstrates the astounding odds that allow humanity to flourish on this planet, any nearer, or further away, and life as we know it would not exist.
As an artist using oil on canvas, I hate to waste anything. I keep a canvas handy and when the paints I am using begin to dry I use color theory to create abstract backgrounds. Later, I use those backgrounds for photorealism portraits in the midground. I create a layer effect using movement, focus and balance.
I often combine abstraction and photorealism to challenge the viewer and generate conversation. I hope the exchange of ideas allows people to think differently about the world, life, and each other.
All works are one-of-a-kind, derived entirely from the observations, imagination, research, and sketches of the artist. Robert Wilkens retains copyright and all reproduction rights. No reproduction by any process whatsoever without the written consent of the artist. Copyright 2022 by Robert Wilkens. All rights reserved.
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