Robert J. Wilbert, Plaster Elephant and Zinnia. 1979. Watercolor
May 10, 2019
Robert J. Wilbert, Plaster Elephant and Zinnia. 1979. Watercolor.
Robert J. Wilbert’s still life paintings offer a different perspective on a traditional style of artmaking. He takes seemingly ordinary objects and carefully places them together to create a sense of mysticism. Plaster Elephant and Zinnia displays Wilbert’s unique vision and careful intentions. The elephant is juxtaposed with colorful flora to maintain an air of whimsy, but still present as common objects nonetheless.
Wilbert was originally from Chicago and earned his Fine Arts degree at the University of Illinois. He later relocated to Detroit where he spent nearly forty years as a painting instructor for Wayne State University’s Art Department. In 1987, Wilbert was commissioned by the state of Michigan to design the first commemorative postage stamp that honored Michigan’s statehood. In 2010, The Scarab Club in Detroit honored Wilbert in an exhibition that featured his paintings, as well as his former student’s. His work is featured in permanent collections at the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Susanne Hilberry Gallery in Ferndale, Michigan.
-Written by Marissa N. Gannascoli-