The San Jose Museum of Art presents Dream Games: The Art of Robert Schwartz. Robert Schwartz (1947-2000) is best known for his meticulously crafted oil paintings and gouaches featuring enigmatic, dream-like narratives, which are often no larger than eight inches square. Rendered in jewel-like colors with astonishing detail, Schwartz painted his miniatures using what art critic David Bonetti has described as "a lapidary’s skill." This exhibition is organized by Susan Landauer, Katie and Drew Gibson Chief Curator of the San Jose Museum of Art and focuses primarily on Schwartz’s later works.
Although Schwartz began his artistic career in Chicago, graduating from the Art Institute in 1970, his arrival in San Francisco the next year was critical in shaping his artistic output. Influenced by the eccentricity of the 60s counterculture and the emerging gay community, his work became deeply psychological, as he began to examine the contemporary psyche with an unflinching eye for human weakness and vulnerability, and a dark sense of humor uniquely his own.
Schwartz always kept his distance from the contemporary art world, preferring to pursue a solitary vision. Although that choice protected his individuality, it also meant that his art received less recognition than it deserved. Only now, with the rising tide of narrative figuration in recent years, has Schwartz begun to be appreciated for the rich complexity and sophistication of his enigmatic art.
The show is accompanied by a 220-page, fully illustrated catalogue that will include essays by Susan Landauer and guest essayist Barry Schwabsky.
show less
Although Schwartz began his artistic career in Chicago, graduating from the Art Institute in 1970, his arrival in San Francisco the next year was critical in shaping his artistic output. Influenced by the eccentricity of the 60s counterculture and the emerging gay community, his work became deeply psychological, as he began to examine the contemporary psyche with an unflinching eye for human weakness and vulnerability, and a dark sense of humor uniquely his own.
Schwartz always kept his distance from the contemporary art world, preferring to pursue a solitary vision. Although that choice protected his individuality, it also meant that his art received less recognition than it deserved. Only now, with the rising tide of narrative figuration in recent years, has Schwartz begun to be appreciated for the rich complexity and sophistication of his enigmatic art.
The show is accompanied by a 220-page, fully illustrated catalogue that will include essays by Susan Landauer and guest essayist Barry Schwabsky.
The San Jose Museum of Art presents Dream Games: The Art of Robert Schwartz. Robert Schwartz (1947-2000) is best known for his meticulously crafted oil paintings and gouaches featuring enigmatic, dream-like narratives, which are often no larger than eight inches square. Rendered in jewel-like colors with astonishing detail, Schwartz painted his miniatures using what art critic David Bonetti has described as "a lapidary’s skill." This exhibition is organized by Susan Landauer, Katie and Drew Gibson Chief Curator of the San Jose Museum of Art and focuses primarily on Schwartz’s later works.
Although Schwartz began his artistic career in Chicago, graduating from the Art Institute in 1970, his arrival in San Francisco the next year was critical in shaping his artistic output. Influenced by the eccentricity of the 60s counterculture and the emerging gay community, his work became deeply psychological, as he began to examine the contemporary psyche with an unflinching eye for human weakness and vulnerability, and a dark sense of humor uniquely his own.
Schwartz always kept his distance from the contemporary art world, preferring to pursue a solitary vision. Although that choice protected his individuality, it also meant that his art received less recognition than it deserved. Only now, with the rising tide of narrative figuration in recent years, has Schwartz begun to be appreciated for the rich complexity and sophistication of his enigmatic art.
The show is accompanied by a 220-page, fully illustrated catalogue that will include essays by Susan Landauer and guest essayist Barry Schwabsky.
read more
Although Schwartz began his artistic career in Chicago, graduating from the Art Institute in 1970, his arrival in San Francisco the next year was critical in shaping his artistic output. Influenced by the eccentricity of the 60s counterculture and the emerging gay community, his work became deeply psychological, as he began to examine the contemporary psyche with an unflinching eye for human weakness and vulnerability, and a dark sense of humor uniquely his own.
Schwartz always kept his distance from the contemporary art world, preferring to pursue a solitary vision. Although that choice protected his individuality, it also meant that his art received less recognition than it deserved. Only now, with the rising tide of narrative figuration in recent years, has Schwartz begun to be appreciated for the rich complexity and sophistication of his enigmatic art.
The show is accompanied by a 220-page, fully illustrated catalogue that will include essays by Susan Landauer and guest essayist Barry Schwabsky.
show less
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