Friday, March 30, 2012

31/31: Robert Maloney


31 artists...31 days. Spend every day of March with me at The Altered Page to meet the 31 spotlight artists in my book The Pulse of Mixed Media: Secrets and Passions of 100 Artists Revealed. See their beautiful faces, read their 'quirky' bios written in their own words, see some of their art that led me to invite them to be a part of my book, and hear my story of what they each mean to me. Then click on over to their sites and see what they have to say about The Pulse of Mixed Media.
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My work focuses on the elements of modern life that often go unnoticed. That hand painted sign on the side of an old building; the pipes that poke in and out of just about every structure we see; the boarded up windows of an abandoned factory; the billboard that advertises a discontinued product; the scaffolding grid-work of an old bridge.



 What history do these structures hold? What lies inside of these vessels? These are the things that go through my mind in a normal day.



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I had no connection to Bob prior to inviting him to be a part of the book. Rather, his art spoke for itself. I had seen his work featured in the May/June 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and in Lisa Cyr's 
Art Revolution: Alternative Approaches for Fine Artists and Illustrators. The article in CPS included the line "Robert Maloney's evocative collages take his audience on a visual voyage through gritty and ephemeral layers of image, text, and texture." They had me at 'gritty.'

I really responded to his artwork and was thrilled that he responded quickly and positively to my invitation. I was very pleased to be able to have another mixed media 'guy' for the book. The artwork that he provided for the book is everything that I hoped it would be and I look forward to the day when I can see it in person.

Excited to also announce that his work from the book will be featured in an exhibition opening today at 13FOREST Gallery in  Alrlington, MA. Good luck Bob. Wish I could be there.


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GIVEAWAY

NOW CLOSED

56 comments:

Lelainia N. Lloyd said...

Yeah, I have to say that one thing I LOVED about the book was the fact that you included so many men. I always enjoy seeing men's work because the approach is often so different from what women are doing-more earthy and raw and textural. Gritty is a perfect word.

I really, really loved the layers of his work. It reminded me of old billboards when the posters have been glued over a million times and the paper layers have been exposed to the elements and are shredding and coming away.

Carrie said...

"Often go unnoticed," exactly! Your 'child-like wonder' appears extraordinarily resilient. I can't recall the numerous times my child has 'shown' me something that was literally right in front of me, and even then I may still have remained blind.

I love your pieces incorporating the cranes and the cherry pickers. They remind me of the mornings spent with my child having breakfast in the car while watching the construction of something.

Thanks for the much needed reminder to pause.

Carrie said...

"Often go unnoticed," exactly! Your 'child-like wonder' appears extraordinarily resilient. I can't recall the numerous times my child has 'shown' me something that was literally right in front of me, and even then I may still have remained blind.

I love your pieces incorporating the cranes and the cherry pickers. They remind me of the mornings spent with my child having breakfast in the car while watching the construction of something.

Thanks for the much needed reminder to pause.

Annette said...

I'd love to see Roberts work in 'real' life.. wow...
hugs

ArtPropelled said...

I also noticed Robert's intriguing work for the first time in Artist Revolution. Thrilled Robert is in your book Seth and so looking forward to reading more about him.

Unknown said...

Goodness! striking works!!! I with pleasure would hang up one of them to itself in a house!

liberal sprinkles said...

wow, Robert's collages are amazing. There's so much depth. I love all the layering and the use of type.
Grace

Anonymous said...

Wow.... I love Robert's work. Wonderfully distressed and urban.
So many wonderful artists in this book Seth!

Jacky xox

Janine Whitling said...

Terrific work, gritty they may be but so eloquently assembled. Just a tad disappointed that he doesn't have a blog :-(

Judy Shreve said...

Wonderful work - love the depth in his pieces - and also would love to see it in person. Wish he had a blog too - but looking forward to reading more about him in your book.

lindjoy said...

Compelling work from a talented artist who sees deeply into everyday things. Thanks for sharing Robert's work. It is memorable.

Annie said...

Beautiful, deep work. I love old, gritty, forgotten things too, so my heart responded to Robert's work instantly. Thank you for introducing us to his art. xoxo

Lisa H said...

...stand back and put your hands over your ears, I'm about to scream!
I LOVE this mans work.
The imagery is such a sharp turn from "Conventional".
Color, texture, the imagery that I love.....excuse me, I need to step out for some air before I pass out.

Lottie Anderson, BFA said...

the variety of textures and the numerous layers draws the view eye into the work. very nice.

thanks for sharing gentlemen

~Babs said...

Another excellent choice, this artist!
I love attempting to read the history in the work, and not quite being told the entire story. Leaves much to contemplate.

Rusted Wings said...

another amazing artist robert is....wow!!!

Lynn Cohen said...

I enjoyed visiting Robert's website and it wasn't until I saw a side view of a piece that I understood the mixed media, as they looked like wonderful paintings to me at first. But seeing the depth, textures, multiple layers, and pieces is so exciting! My eyes were playing tricks on me! What an exciting connection and addition to the book you made with finding Robert!

maggie crawford said...

Can't beloved that 31/31 is almost done. Thank you for introducing me to so many amazing and talented artists, and to your book. And thank you Stephanie Rubiano for introducing your blog to me. I love Bob's art and want to see more.

Carol said...

I can see why you like his work! And I always like what you like !

Robert said...

Robert Maloney's work evokes in me intense memories of the way life felt to a child growing up in a California town in the mid-1950s: worn, faded advertising from a bygone era on the sides of old buildings on Main Street; the superstructure underneath an old railroad bridge we used to play on; chanting the 'poetry' from Burma Shave signs over and over, to my two brothers in the backseat of our '53 Chevy on a family car trip through the Southwestern U.S.. I love the way his two pieces in the book have irregular, non-rectangular shapes! The weathered surfaces, and textures that he is able to achieve in these pieces,combined with his use of old photographs, and obvious love for text and typography, are palpable references to human aspiration, and the history of a bygone era. The pieces shown on the blog post, today, are equally enticing! And, I can really relate to his most 'quirky creative habit' when visiting a museum or gallery, as stated in the book, since I follow a similar, but different, patterned routine when looking at art, myself.

elle said...

The everyday has a lot to say and this is eloquent!

Jill Zaheer said...

Robert's art is phenomenal art- rich, vivid in feel, color, layers and attraction to keep looking further! Thanks for another fabulous spotlighted artist just oozing with that unique and creative aura!

Jim Kiely said...

I'm one of the owners of 13FOREST Gallery, where a good number of his constructions are part of our new show. I saw his biggest piece in the show for the first time when I helped him lift it from the floow and hang it on the wall. Wow! It is one of the finest works of art I've seen in a long time. Quite an artist is Mr. Maloney!

Unknown said...

I will enjoy studying Robert's work for a long long time. 'Evocative' is really the right word...I had to check in the dict'y...I am old school and check manually...yes, evocative is the right word to describe how his work makes me feel. Just wonderful work. *smiles* Norma

Jo Murray said...

Robert's work is subtle, yet complex. There is so much to see in each image.

donna joy said...

i too would like to see his work in person-the textures, layers and the colors just mesh so well. I love anything with type~

onesmallstitch said...

fantastic - it is work I would never tire of and find something new in it forever.

Carol said...

Wonderful collages, deep, rich, intriguing. Another great choice, Seth!

Bev said...

i love this type of urban art but it takes such talent to make it work its so from the gut ...

hugz bev

Cheryl said...

Fantastic stuff. I'll have to find him in the book to see how he does that.

Anonymous said...

Nice, there is so much to discover in these pieces. The colors and the objects certainly work well together and present a strong visual.

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Bill said...

Wow. Such beautiful grunge! His work must be incredible to see in person.

Cathy said...

oh my word, I love his work! I feel like I could stare at each one for hours. I can't wait to see more of his work. really amazing.

ANNETTE HUSBAND said...

OMgoshie
these works by Robert are wonderful...I love the mechanical hints to it all...ssooo cool

Rebeca Trevino said...

how did i miss this? beautiful work!
wow! wow! wow! another amazing artist. can't wait to see more. thank you seth!

susan in seattle said...

I like that Robert really knows how to 'see' what he's looking at and gets it down on the canvas so it's real for the viewer. Great layers and textures!

susan in seattle said...

I like that Robert really knows how to 'see' what he's looking at and gets it down on the canvas so it's real for the viewer. Great layers and textures!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

CPS may have hooked you at "gritty," but you hooked me at Cloth, Paper, Scissors! I had to find my copy and discover Robert for myself.

Emma said...

I love looking at things that stick out of buildings! I enjoyed the article in CPS but never thought I'd like a crane so much ;)

Judith HeartSong said...

ooooh, the first prize sounds wonderful!!!!! We are looking forward to hosting you at salon - an artful conversation!

Barbara I. said...

Thank you for featuring Robert's work today. I was not familiar with his art. I LOVE the layers in his collages.

Wen said...

Stunner! The worn presentive aspects of his work go hand in hand with the photos of abandonment and often unnoticed bits of our 'civilization'.

Patricia Wolf said...

Seeing Robert's work makes me want to start collating again. Love all the textures and grittiness! Thank you again Seth for all the wonderful introductions to these amazing artists!!!

Darlene K Campbell said...

I first saw Robert's work in CPS. A treat to have visited his blog. I would like to see his work in person.

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

such intriguing, complex, marvelous work! thank you over and over for sending us those that might not have entered our knowledge, seth!

Kate Burroughs said...

Great work. Love the old billboard look.
Aloha, Kate

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

Wonderful! Glad to be introduced to Robert's work. Going to go explore his work some more.

Suzanne Bouchard said...

WoW1 Thank you for letting me discover this incredible artist! I love his work, his use of transparencies, the contrast between the weathered, the old and the rough and structured metals! great work! bravo!

Terrie said...

Such an intriguing artist - I love his take on the urban side of life - Never Over is excellent! Dimension, great composition and it's just endlessly interesting. Great addition to the month.

Unknown said...

Robert's work up close and personal is amazing. Being in the Boston area, I've been able to see a bit of it, and plan on visiting the new show. Glad you highlighted him!

Frances said...

How beautifully breathtaking intricate and mesmerizing.

Sheila Cameron said...

I'm in love with this work. I know I should say the "L" word first but I can't help it.

sf said...

Beautiful work...I'm in love...

Parabolic Muse said...

Well, anyone who can combine gritty with a color 'sunshine yellow' is alright in my book.

(notice i didn't say some other kind of yellow...)