His work by then had become ambitious and complicated Captiva forced a return to simplicity, and the first things he produced were a selection of wall sculptures made from battered cardboard boxes. Rauschenberg started visiting in 1962, before moving to Captiva nine years later, describing it as “the foundation of my life and my work… the source and reserve of my energies”. By night, rabbits, bobcats and great horned owls emerge in “the jungle”, a wooded area masterminded by the artist, where a bronze seat faces the sunset. The artist and musician Laurie Anderson came here just after her husband Lou Reed died in 2013, to recharge and start working again.Īrriving on Captiva earlier this month, it is clear what drew Rauschenberg here: the six-mile island is relaxed, sun-baked, and teeming with flora and fauna, from the tiny lizards darting everywhere to the manatees swimming in the bay.
There’s even a resident chef: Rauschenberg was a foodie before the term was even invented. They stay in any of nine cottages and beach houses lapped by the Gulf of Mexico – one is built on stilts, with a balcony from which you can fish – surrounded by Rauschenberg’s art and piles of books. Although he died in 2008, the 20-acre estate he created is now a retreat, where artists work together in a spirit inspired by his philosophy: open, collaborative, risk-taking. Rauschenberg has been a constant presence on Captiva ever since. When you see art that’s made out of the stuff of the real world, that’s coming off the walls, that is his legacy Finally, the artist explained himself: “I’m dyslexic. It reminds me of the joke about the dyslexic who tried to commit suicide: he jumped behind the train.’” Rauschenberg cackled for an inordinate length of time, Hall adds, given the poor quality of the joke. “I don’t know why,” remembers Hall, sitting in the lounge of a glorious beach house with a yellow and blue Rauschenberg collage hanging on the wall, “but I said, ‘Bob: backwards or forwards, it’s spelt the same. “Oh, Matt, don’t call me Mr Rauschenberg. “Mr Rauschenberg, so good to see you again,” Hall called up (Rauschenberg was a regular customer). As Hall approached his beach house, the artist emerged on to the balcony. A mutual acquaintance had approached Hall, then sous chef at a restaurant on the island of Captiva, off Florida, to see whether he would be interested in managing the artist’s property nearby. Rob Liberace has 2 artist signature examples available in our database.M att Hall vividly remembers his job interview with Robert Rauschenberg. askART lists Rob Liberace in 0 of its research Essays. Galleries and art dealers listing works of art by Rob Liberace as either "Wanted" or "For Sale" There are 0Īrtworks for sale on our website by galleries and art dealers askART's database currently holds 9 auction lots for Rob Liberace (of whichĨ auction records sold and 0 are upcoming at auction.)Īrtist artworks for sale and wanted. He has received many commissions of notable people, for example, a full-sized sculpture of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. He teaches a workshop in Florence yearly has well as classes at the Art League School in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia as well as others internationally. He has won many awards, including the Grand Prize from American Artist Magazine, 2006. Robert Liberace lives in suburban Washington with his wife, Lina (also an artist) and two daughters. The artist eventually continued his studies and earned an MFA from George Washington University in 1993. He took more courses from Wright and studied painting under William Woodward. His teacher, Frank Wright, taught him the drawing techniques of the Old Masters and Liberace was hooked.
Robert Liberace discovered drawing while attending George Washington University.