On Sunday, February 17, at 3:00 p.m., Restoration Plaza’s Skylight Gallery will debut the masterful works of Mario Andres Robinson.
The exhibit is entitled “Agape,” which in Christian theology means the love of God for humankind. This love for humanity is shown throughout Robinson’s work in his use of Realism in painting intimate and powerful portraits, close-ups of people in urban and bucolic scenes.
“The subjects – at least 80 percent of them – are family members and friends,” said Robinson. “I was born in Oklahoma and my mother married my stepfather and moved us to New Jersey. I didn’t meet real my father until I was 27. So a large part of this artistic journey has been rationalizing the step-aunts and grandmothers and that whole side of the family, with my father, cousins, grandfather on my real side of the family.
“I guess you could say this exhibit is a reckoning.”
Robinson’s finished works bear a close affinity to the masters of the realist tradition, Andrew Wyeth and Thomas Eakins. He was selected by The Artist’s Magazine as one of the top 20 realists under the age of 40.
Containing few references to modern life, Robinson’s work has a timeless and universal quality and exhibits a Turn-of-the-Century aesthetic. The images he chooses, which reference a bygone era when solitude and reflection were abundant, provoke allusions to the paintings of Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper.
“I never really got interested in impressionism or abstraction, because I came into art through realistic images,” said Robinson, a graduate of Pratt Institute. “I had a childhood mentor that was an illustrator in Oklahoma, and he would draw airplanes and cars. So as a fan of art in my early years, everything I liked was reminiscent of reality.”
Robinson’s work has been highlighted in the American Paintings Auction at Sotheby’s. The Bank of America also includes several of Robinson’s major works in its permanent collection.
In addition to The Artist’s Magazine, his work has been featured several times in The Pastel Journal, Watercolor Magic, Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector and on the cover of American Artist magazine.
Robinson is an Exhibiting Artist Member (EAM) of The National Arts Club, The Salmagundi Club, NY, and a Signature member of The Pastel Society of America. He is considered a “Living Master” by The Art Renewal Center.
Robinson says his work has evolved over the last decade, where he has expanded from painting mostly with oils and pastels, to incorporating more watercolor and pencil.
“Ten years ago, I was able to paint large pastel paintings, which were very labor intensive and took 4-5 months to complete,” he said. “Once I got a little attention and recognition at shows and in magazines, I started to paint water color so that I could produce work quicker. Because of this broadening, I’ve been able to put out a bigger body of work.
“But the technique is unique, and I have my own style that’s very recognizable.”
The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation Center for Art and Culture’s Skylight Gallery and its community partners invites the public in celebrating the art of Mario Andres Robinson.
Opening Reception for "Agape, featuring the works of Mario Andres Robinson:" Sunday, February 17, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Mario A. Robinson, Artist Talk and Slide Presentation
Saturday, March 9, 2013, 6PM-8PM
Live Model Class, with Mario A. Robinson
Saturday, April 6, 2013, 2PM-4PM
Youth Arts Workshop
Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 10AM-12PM
