Robert Berlind's Artistic Evolution from Portraits to Perception in 2016 Interview
In June 2015, Robert Berlind, who was fighting cancer, spoke with Elena Sisto in his Chelsea studio, just months before his passing in December 2015. Berlind, who dedicated 27 years to teaching at SUNY Purchase, reflected on his artistic journey following his graduation from Yale and his tenure at NSCAD in 1976. That same year, he relocated to New York, renting a studio for $250 monthly, and subsequently taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His artwork transitioned from portraits to nocturnal scenes, focusing on perception. Inspired by artists such as Cézanne and Guston, he adhered to a solitary studio practice. The interview wrapped up with information about his exhibition 'Kyoto/Cochecton,' scheduled from January 9 to February 13, 2016.
Key facts
- Robert Berlind died in December 2015 after a cancer battle.
- He was interviewed by Elena Sisto in his Chelsea studio in June 2015.
- Berlind taught at SUNY Purchase for about 27 years and wrote for Art in America and The Brooklyn Rail.
- His first teaching job was at NSCAD in 1976 after graduating from Yale.
- He moved to New York in 1976, paying $250 monthly for a studio.
- Berlind exhibited with galleries including Alexander Milliken, Jeanne Siegel, Tibor de Nagy, and Findlay Fine Art.
- His painting shifted from portraits to night window reflections in the late 1970s, with works up to 14 feet.
- He traveled to Japan in 2011, studying Ukiyo-e prints and creating rice paddy paintings.
Entities
Artists
- Robert Berlind
- Elena Sisto
- Stephen Westfall
- Irving Sandler
- Rosemarie Beck
- Philip Guston
- Cézanne
- Fairfield Porter
- John Singer Sargent
- Rembrandt
- Matisse
Institutions
- SUNY Purchase
- NSCAD (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design)
- Yale
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Alexander Milliken
- Jeanne Siegel
- Tibor de Nagy
- Findlay Fine Art
- Lennon, Weinberg, Inc.
- Lori Bookstein Fine Art
- Art in America
- The Brooklyn Rail
- artcritical
- Studio School
- American Academy
Locations
- Chelsea
- New York
- United States
- Nova Scotia
- Canada
- Chicago
- Illinois
- Japan
- Kyoto
- Cochecton
- Prince Street
- 57th Street
- Upstate New York