Robert Kipniss

(American, born 1931)

Robert Kipniss is an American artist, best known for his stylized paintings and prints of rural and suburban landscapes. Often painted in monochromatic hues or subtle variations thereof, his works feature eerie and asynchronous imagery and subject matter that create a pervasive sense of malaise. Born on February 1, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY, Kipniss grew up in middleclass areas of New York City, eventually studying at the Art Students League around 1947 and earning his MFA at the University of Iowa in 1954. The artist found inspiration among the uncanny neighborhoods of Springfield, OH, often drawing his milieu from observation for later reference in the studio. “The elements that remain a large part of my imagery all my working life began to emerge in these sketches,” the artist remarked in 1999. “Mysterious windowless houses, backyard fences, trees leafless in the off-season.” Kipniss' work has been met with critical acclaim, and can be found amongst the collections hundreds of museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Springfield Museum of Art in Springfield, and the Hunter Museum of Art in Chattanooga.