Artist Statement-My art work, since 1967, has been basically formalistic in approach and adheres to the Greengergian philosophy of modernistic painting, which is concerned with the "flatbed" concept of space.  This concept emphasizes the two-dimensionality of the art forms surface and placement of that surface of a structure conscious of it.

Usually, I do not have any starting point in mind before starting a piece, although sometimes I may begin with a general attitude toward a tonality of color.  This may change as the work progresses.  I work from that mental construct through an evolution process of building and destroying which coaxes a unique form into existence and resolution.

Education:

1963  M.F.A., Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois
1961  B.F.A. , Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri
Teaching Experience:

1967-present  Professor of Art, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
1963-1966  Instructor of Art, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point
1961-1963  Graduate Teaching Assistant, Southern Illinois University

Artist-In-Residence:

1991 (Fall)  Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana
1982 (Fall)  Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
1974-1975  Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, New Mexico
1966-1967  Area Arts Program (Title I), Green Bay, Wisconsin

Visiting Artist:

1979  Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
1978  Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri,
1976  Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa
1973  Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana

Grants Received:

1985  Technical Assistantship in Lithography, Lawrence Lithography Workshop,
Lawrence, Kansas Funded by The Kansas Arts Commission and The National Endowment For The Arts
1974-1975  Artist-in-Residence Grant, Roswell Museum and Arts Center, Roswell, New Mexico

Publications, Reviews (Selected):

Jan. 15, 1989  Kansas City Star, "Robert Russell" by Donald Hoffmann
Sept./Oct., 1987  Forum, "Readable Reference Rescue Abstract Art" by Greg Field
Mar. 22, 1987  Kansas City Star, "Robert Russell" by Donald Hoffmann

Gallery Affiliations:

Jan Weiner Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri.
Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas.

Group Exhibitions (Selected):

1991  Beverly Gordon Gallery, Dallas, Texas
1991  Walnut Street Gallery, Springfield, Missouri
1988  Color and Structure, Spiva Art Center, Joplin, Missouri

Solo Exhibitions (Selected):
2007  Jack Meier Gallery
1994  Jack Meier Gallery, Houston, Texas 1996, 1998
1992, 1989  Jan Weiner Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri 1987, 1984, 1982
1991, 1989  Kauffman Galleries, Houston, Texas
1989  Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa
1983  National Office of the Institute of Business Designers, Chicago, Illinois
1975  Humbolt State University, Arcata, California
1975  Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, New Mexico
1973  University Art Museum, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
1971  South Dakota Memorial Art Center, Brookings, South Dakota

Public Collections (Selected):

Dickenson State College, Dickenson, North Dakota.
El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, Texas.
Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri.
Roswell Museum and Art Center, Roswell, New Mexico.

Corporate Collections (Selected):

A.T.&T., Kansas City, Missouri.
Mobil Oil Corporation, New York.
Continental Corporation, New York.
Dodson Insurance, Kansas City, Missouri.
Hallmark, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri.
Baird, Kurtz & Dobson, Joplin, Missouri.