Robert Longo

Renowned for his compelling and thought-provoking art, Robert Longo is an influential American artist and filmmaker. His distinctive style and exploration of socio-political themes have left an enduring mark on the contemporary art scene.

Biography of Robert Longo

Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953, Robert Longo began his higher education at the University of North Texas in Denton. However, he opted to leave before completing his degree and subsequently pursued sculpture under the mentorship of Leonda Finke.

In 1972, he secured a grant to study at the prestigious Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. Returning to New York, he enrolled at Buffalo State College, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1975.

Longo's career trajectory was significantly influenced by his collaborations with experimental filmmakers Paul Sharits and Hollis Frampton. Exposed to the world of structural filmmaking through this partnership, he also forged a connection with fellow artist Cindy Sherman.

As a student, Longo and his peers transformed their co-op building into the Essex Art Center, later known as the renowned Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. This ambitious project served as a platform for avant-garde art. Through the gallery, Longo interacted with a vibrant community of local and New York City artists, ultimately inspiring his move to the city.

His deep-rooted interest in art history is evident in his ongoing project, "Forensic Distance." Initiated in 2006, this captivating exploration examines how artists throughout history have depicted their respective eras. Longo has created a series of small graphite drawings, meticulously recreating famous historical works in monochrome. These "Heritage Drawings" demonstrate his profound attention to detail.

Longo's artistic contributions have been celebrated worldwide through retrospective exhibitions at prestigious institutions. These include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Menil Collection in Houston, the Isetan Museum of Art in Tokyo, the Musée d'art moderne et d'art contemporain in Nice, and the Museu Colecção Berardo in Lisbon.

Longo became known as part of the "Pictures Generation." He worked with drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, and performance to make provocative critiques of the effects of capitalism and mediatized wars, etc.

Robert Longo's Famous Works

Longo's most iconic series, "Men in the Cities," emerged in the late 1970s. These photorealistic drawings portray sharply dressed individuals contorted in dramatic poses, often interpreted as a reflection of the anxiety and alienation inherent to urban existence.

His work often delves into the complexities of power and authority. His "Black Flags" series, a collection of blackened American flags, is a prime example. This provocative body of work serves as a potent commentary on themes of power, patriotism, and identity.

Longo's exploration of power and control extended beyond flags to his "Bodyhammers" series. These oversized depictions of handguns magnified the weapon's presence, confronting viewers with themes of violence, power, and the complex relationship between individuals and firearms.

Between 2009 and 2014, the artist embarked on a groundbreaking series titled "The Mysteries." This body of work significantly expanded his artistic vocabulary, exploring light and movement in both physical and metaphysical realms.

In 2014, amidst a climate of heightened racial tension in the United States and the rise of ISIS, Longo initiated the "Destroyer Cycle" series. These works served as a powerful response to the tumultuous sociopolitical landscape of the era.

Robert Longo's Art Style

A part of the "Pictures Generation," Longo employed drawing, photography, painting, sculpture, and performance to create provocative critiques of capitalism and the desensitizing effects of media-driven warfare.

Drawing inspiration from Carl Jung's concept of the collective unconscious, Longo examines the impact of our image-saturated world. His work delves into how we filter, retain, and process the constant visual onslaught. By transforming intimate drawings into monumental paintings with meticulous charcoal detail, Longo creates works of profound narrative and emotional power.

The artist frequently draws inspiration from media-driven narratives surrounding contemporary issues like war, protests, immigration, and climate change. Simultaneously, he has produced series that capture the raw intensity of "absolute" moments: exploding bombs, crashing waves, breaching sharks, or blooming roses.