Glenn O'Brien's Profile of Artist Walter Robinson's Multifaceted Career and Artistic Return
Walter Robinson, a co-founder of Art-Rite, is a prominent figure in the art community, serving as the chief reporter and editor for Artnet, as well as a correspondent for Gallery Beat. He has made appearances on The Kostabi Show and wrote for Art in America between 1979 and 1996. His artwork often depicts romantic heroines and characters inspired by pulp fiction. Notably, his spin paintings came before those of Damien Hirst, and his food-themed works resonate with those of Wayne Thiebaud and Mel Ramos. Titles such as Savage Destiny and Divine Weakness evoke themes of desire. Renowned for his humor, Robinson favors casual environments, as evidenced by a panel discussion in December. After a break, he has returned to exhibiting, pushing artistic boundaries with a daring vision.
Key facts
- Walter Robinson co-founded the artist-run magazine Art-Rite
- He served as editor and chief reporter for Artnet
- Robinson was a regular correspondent on the TV show Gallery Beat
- He appears on The Kostabi Show, Mark Kostabi's painting identification program
- Robinson contributed to Art in America from 1979 to 1996 and remains on its masthead
- His paintings feature pulp fiction heroines similar to Richard Prince's Nurses or Mel Ramos's models
- Robinson created spin paintings before Damien Hirst, evoking psychedelic experiences
- He has returned to exhibiting his art after a period of absence
Entities
Artists
- Walter Robinson
- Glenn O'Brien
- Richard Prince
- Mel Ramos
- Damien Hirst
- Wayne Thiebaud
- Elizabeth Peyton
- Francis Picabia
- Balthus
- Elaine de Kooning
- Fairfield Porter
- Mark Kostabi
Institutions
- Art-Rite
- Artnet
- Art in America
- Gallery Beat
- The Kostabi Show
- Boston Globe
- University of Illinois
- Diocese of Boston
Locations
- Boston
- United States
- Bayonne
- New Jersey
- Illinois