About
.jpg)
Robert Barrell was born in 1912 and passed in 1995. However, his spirit still lives on in the works of art that he created and the works of the students he mentored.
​
Barrell, otherwise known as "Bob" to his friends, never held a traditional job; instead, he embraced his life as an artist, mentor, and seeker.
​
Presented here are selected works from the 1930s to the 1980s. The entire collection consists of over 3,000 works.
Robert Barrell as a Part of Indian Space
Robert Barrell drew inspiration from Native American art since he studied Native American art extensively. These studies influenced his art's color and form. Thus, Barrell joined with seven other artists (Will Barnet, Gertrude Barrer, Peter Busa, Howard Daum, Helen DeMott, Ruth Lewin, & Steve Wheeler) to conceptualize what they referred to as "Indian Space." In 1948, Barrell "gave up Indian Space to reclaim the image" and claimed his work was becoming too abstract. Therefore, Barrell's shift in style led to an exploration of political satire.