Feature Articles
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October Issue 2004

Ann Long Fine Art in Charleston, SC, Presents New Work By Mario A. Robinson

Ann Long Fine Art in Charleston, SC, will host an exhibition of the figurative works on paper by artist Mario A. Robinson, from Oct. 1 - 31, 2004.

An Oklahoma native, Robinson moved with his family to New Jersey at an early age, where exploration of his considerable talents led to training at the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Robinson's work has always reflected his admiration for the innovations and traditions of European Old Masters; however, it is the dramatically powerful narrative images of American artists like Andrew Wyeth and Thomas Eakins that have exerted the largest influence in terms of style and composition. Their elegant yet minimalist conception of realism is easily recognizable in the efficient details of Robinson's figurative portraits, which train their focus exclusively on the most expressive aspects of the sitter.

While at the Pratt Institute, Robinson was introduced to work in pastel and was immediately drawn to the medium's brilliancy and range. He has continued to expand his versatility as a draughtsman by developing relationships to the subjects of his work over a period of time, choosing to create around a dozen graphite studies before deciding upon the final compositional elements of a charcoal or pastel portrait.

"Robinson's work has been very well received by collectors from Charleston to New York. His beautifully rendered, sensitive portraits are people we all know and are extraordinary works of art. His talent is not going unnoticed," says gallery owner Ann Long.

Robinson has participated in numerous group shows, including the National Black Fine Arts Show in New York City and was most recently featured in American Artist magazine.

Robinson's work has a timeless and universal quality although many of the images he chooses refer to a bygone era when solitude and reflection were abundant. He depicts individuals from small towns located primarily in the state of Alabama, removing them from the trappings of their everyday life, which is powerfully present in their features nevertheless.

"Emotion propagates my creative process," Robinson has stated. The time he spends with the persons he portrays involves the construction of an intimacy evident in the obvious emotional experiences displayed on each face in Robinson's subjects. He says, "A lot of the time, my subjects and I go to the same church, have dinner together. None of what comes across in the paintings is made up; it's the undercurrent of what I feel toward the person".

For more information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 843/577-0447 or at (www.annlongfineart.com).


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