Biography

Born in Eastern Nebraska, by the age of 7, Robert’s family made the momentous decision to move to Ft. Collins, Colorado where Robert’s father would teach at Colorado State University for the next 40 years. Growing up, Robert found Colorado to be a vibrant, prosperous place with innovative companies and thoughtful communities that placed high value on science, arts, and culture. The astounding natural beauty of the Colorado wilderness inspired an ardent active outdoor lifestyle in Robert centered around hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiing amongst other activities. A childhood full of these wonderful opportunities instilled in him a deep appreciation and respect for nature. Along with a strong environmental ethic, Robert also developed a love of cities. Their large-scale sense of place, physical layout, history, architecture, and public spaces did not need to be disconnected from the wilderness that still dominates vast swaths of the United States.

Robert’s studies at the College of Environmental Design at the University of Colorado in Boulder were centered around innovative problem-solving design—a philosophy as much as a methodology centering around the concept that art requires both intuition and problem solving—that continues to motivate much of Robert’s work. 

While not working, spending time with family and friends, or exploring the wilderness of the Front Range, Robert was drawing and painting. After years of formal and informal art instruction, Robert began selling his work in art fairs and entering his work in local shows. His parents’ support and encouragement was instrumental in allowing him to develop as an artist.

The course of his life shifted again in 1983 when Robert traveled to Meyer, Arizona—a small ranching and mining town just north of Phoenix. The Italian-born visionary architect and artist, Palo Soleri, lead a community engaged in an ambitious experiment testing the concepts of arcology. Robert reveled in living and working with a diverse group of people passionate about developing fully-contained, high-density community superstructures that existed harmoniously with the natural environs. His time at Arcosanti was temporary, but filled with days constructing the theater building, learning of Palo’s philosophies, and observing the bronze foundry and ceramic studios that financially supported the foundation.

Robert said goodbye to Arcosanti, but not to Arizona, and moved to Tempe to attend the College of Architecture and Design at Arizona State University. While at ASU he further developed a signature architecture and urban design style that carried further into his professional career as an Urban Designer. Robert is adept at interpreting and transforming thoughts, ideas, and visions of community members and teammates into highly expressive character drawings that bring to light how the space makes a person feel. He is committed to design that empowers and supports people and, over time, allows a sense of place and belonging to grow.

A job working for EDAW, an international design firm based in San Francisco, led to Robert moving to Southern California in 1990. Exposure to talented individuals, a chance to work internationally, and a 

tremendous amount of culture and art to absorb, Robert enjoyed his time in Southern California until a troubled economy led him back to Arizona. Contracting with the City of Scottsdale to develop early concepts for the Arizona Canal District evolved into Robert working for the city as an urban designer. Robert’s urban design work blends design sensibility to support events and businesses with a deep appreciation for art. He was a part of the team that was pivotal in transforming downtown into an arts and cultural destination recognized for its art infrastructure, quality public spaces, integral public art, signature events, and pedestrian orientation.

It was during his time with Scottsdale that Robert entered a Master of Liberal Studies at Northern Arizona University. The rigorous program was themed on sustainable communities and his personalized course  on the role of fine artists, like painters and sculptors, in guiding community visions. Artists not only reflect society, but play a crucial role in defining the sense of place.

Upon completing his work at NAU, Robert continued work on his Scottsdale projects providing input on the Downtown Plan and creating large-scale character renderings defining the character of the community. His work earned praise and later was accepted into the Cultural Councils City’s fine art collection. He was often called upon to create honorary pieces for special events and departing community leaders including Palo Soleri, Deputy City Manager and the community’s Mayor. 

Robert made the difficult decision in 2009 to pursue a dual focus: maintaining his career as an urban designer while investing much of his free time towards becoming a professional painter.

As a lifelong student, Robert soaked up knowledge from artist peers and formal instruction. He enrolled in classes and workshops at Phoenix College, Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona, Breckenridge Creative Arts in Colorado, and Vallarta Arts in Mexico. In his recent studies, he began to shift from soft pastels and watercolor to acrylic mediums and oil paints.

Alongside painting, Robert continued to explore and make fine jewelry pieces to complement his lapidary work. Currently, he is selling his lapidary art from a small gallery on Grand Avenue in Phoenix.  His involvement and connections with the Grand Avenue neighborhood community grew and culminated in a show and exhibit during Phoenix’s Art Detour in 2015. 

Today, Robert can be found chasing that spark in Sunnyslope or wandering the wilds of the Mogollon Rim near Christopher Creek much like he explored the Colorado wilderness. The places he sees, the places that connect to him on a visceral level, are the ones that drive him. The places that are most interesting, those with a beautiful synchrony, the ones that are restorative and enchanting are his subjects.