Artworks by Robert Kobayashi at Phyllis Stigliano Gallery on artnet

Robert Kobayashi

(American, 1925–2015)

Robert Kobayashi

Prince Street, ca. 1981

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Robert Kobayashi

Three Plums, 1989

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Robert Kobayashi

Ernsthausen's Pond, 2006

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Robert Kobayashi

Weed Flowers from an Empty Lot, 2002

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Robert Kobayashi

Bouquet on Tippy Toes, 2002

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Robert Kobayashi

My Sister's Tsunami Plant, April 1949, 2009

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Biography

Timeline

1925: Born Robert Hiroshi Kobayashi, Honolulu, Territory of HI
1946 - 1948: Under GI Bill, studied at Honolulu School of Art with Willson Stamper
1949 - 1951: Under GI Bill, studied at Brooklyn Museum Art School, NY, with John Ferren
1950: Lived in Paris
1954 - 1955: Employed by The Museum of Modern Art, NYC and cared for Japanese House, an architectural exhibition, installed in the museum garden, and continued to work at MoMA until 1978
1957: One of founding members of Brata Gallery, NYC – one of the Tenth Street cooperative galleries
1962: First solo show of his abstract expressionist paintings and sculpture at Gima’s Gallery, Honolulu, HI
1970 - 1980: Neo-pointillist paintings
1973: Began using his technique of nailing pieces of metal onto wood
1977: Began using his locked storefront Moe’s Meat Market (a former meat market) located at 237 Elizabeth Street, NYC, then Little Italy, for his mysterious and playful changing installations that amazed passers-by
1981: Art writer Michael Florescu coined the term clouage to describe Kobayashi’s process of nailing pieces of metal onto wood in Arts, November, that reviewed his solo show at Josef Gallery, NYC
1988: Solo show Tattooed Angel, Paintings & Sculpture, at Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn, NY, with essay, Tin, by Alec Wilkinson
1991: Wrote and illustrated children’s book, Maria Mazaretti Loves Spaghetti, for publisher Alfred A. Knopf, NYC
2000: Opened Moe’s Meat Market, a gallery, as a formal gallery
2009: Exhibited in group shows, Hawaii’s Modern Masters, presented at CHANEL, Waikiki, HI
2014: Exhibited in group shows, Hawaii’s Modern Masters, presented at CHANEL, Waikiki, HI
2015: Robert Kobayashi died in Honolulu, HI
2017: Group exhibition, Inventing Downtown, an exhibition devoted to the Tenth Street cooperative galleries during the 1950’s-1960’s, NYC
2019 - 2020: Group exhibition, A new MoMA: Artist's Choice: Amy Sillman-The Shape of Shape, The Museum of Modern Art, NY, USA. Kobayashi's sculpture, Three Plums, 1984, on view in the newly reinstalled 5th-floor collection galleries.
: Brooklyn Museum's long term loan of Robert Kobayashi's painting, Brooklyn Bridge, to City Hall, NYC. on view at the Council Speaker's office through December 2020.

Exhibitions

2020: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2020:
Robert Kobayashi: Moe’s Meat Market, Susan Inglett Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2019 - 2020: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2019-2020:
Artist's Choice: Amy Sillman -The Shape of Shape, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA
2019: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2019:
anthophile: men who paint, Platform Project Space, Brooklym, NY, USA, curated by Elizabeth Hazan and Patrick Neal
Just Like I Pictured It, Platform Project Space, Dumbo Open Studios Weekend, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2017 - 2018: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2017-18:
Inventing Downtown: Artist-Run Galleries in New York City, 1952-1965, Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York, NY, USA, curator: Melissa Rachleff. Travel to NYU Abu Dhabi Art Gallery
2016 - 2019: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2016-19:
Infinite Blue, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
2016: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2016:
Selected Works by Robert Kobayashi, Benefit for the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Humane Society, Pacific Guardian Center, Honolulu, HI, USA, organized by Joyce Okano and John Koga (solo)
2015 - 2016: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2015-16:
Ionic Order Series 1986, Moe’s Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2015: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2015:
Grass Paintings by Robert Kobayashi, Michele Mercaldo, Boston, MA, USA (solo)
Clouage & Paintings, Moe’s Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2014: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2014:
City Angels, Paintings by Robert Kobayashi, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Mixed Media, Miniature Show XVII, Koa Gallery, Honolulu, HI, USA
Hawaii’s Modern Masters, Luxury Row and Cedar Street Galleries, Exhibition held at CHANEL, Honolulu, HI, USA
2013: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2013:
White on White, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Robert Kobayashi: Metal Clouage, Michelle Mercaldo, Boston, MA, USA (solo)
H O M E. recent work by Frances Hynes, Robert Kobayashi, Gordon Sasaki & Ann Schaumburger, Phyllis Stigliano Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2011: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2011:
Seeing and Being: Recent Work, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2009: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2009:
Hawaii’s Modern Masters, Luxury Row & Cedar Street Galleries, Exhibition held at CHANEL, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
2008: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2008:
Today [Aujourd’ hui], New Work by Robert Kobayashi, Moe’s Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2007: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2007:
Robert Kobayashi: American Landscapes, New York University, Washington Square Windows East, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2006: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2006:
Robert Kobayashi: American Landscapes & Still-lifes, Port Washington Public Library, Port Washington, NY, USA (solo)
2005: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2005:
Robert Kobayashi. Tin, Eastern Standard Time, Phyllis Stigliano Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA (solo)
Honolulu to New York, The Contemporary Museum at First Hawaiian Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
2003: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2003:
Robert Kobayashi: Moonflowers, New York University, Broadway Windows, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Moonflowers, Moe’s Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
2002: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2002:
New Work: My Mother Seated With Her Clara Bow Haircut, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Robert Kobayashi: Armored, 80 Washington Square East, Washington Square Windows, New York, NY, USA (solo)
25th small works, New York University, 80 Washington Square East Galleries, New York, NY, USA
2001: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2001:
Twelve Cut Petals, Tin Work, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Walk on White, The Wave Gallery, Key West, FL, USA
WET!, Luise Ross Gallery, New York, NY, USA
2000: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 2000:
Robert Kobayashi: Armored Impressions, New York University, Washington Square East Windows, New York, NY, USA (solo)
1996: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1996:
Juan Iribarren, Robert Kobayashi, Patrick Neal: Paintings, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA
1990: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1990:
Tin Flowers by Robert Kobayashi, Presented by Angel Diversified Art Services, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
Red Curtains: Works by Robert Kobayashi, Presented by Angel Diversified Art Services, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
1989: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1989:
Contemporary Works from the Collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA
1988: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1988:
Tattooed Angel: Paintings and Sculpture by Robert Kobayashi, Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn, NY, USA (solo)
1987: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1987:
Clouage by Robert Kobayashi, Corporate Headquarters of Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Inc., Roseland, NJ, USA (solo)
Painting and Sculpture Acquisitions, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA
1986: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1986:
Robert Kobayashi: Recent Sculpture, Moe's Meat Market, New York, NY, USA (solo)
1984: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1984:
Flora!, Photocollect, New York, NY, USA
Red Dog Running: New Discoveries in 20th Century Folk and Outsider Art, Ricco Johnson Gallery, New York, NY, USA
1983: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1983:
The Great East River Bridge 1883-1983, The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Animal Life: Contemporary Representations, Ericson Gallery, New York, NY, USA
1982: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1982:
Small Works, 80 Washington Square East Galleries, New York University, New York, NY, USA
OK Harris West, Kobayashi-Larry Gerber, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1981: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1981:
Kobayashi: Constructions in Tin, Josef Gallery, New York, NY, USA (solo)
1980: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1980:
Moe’s Meat Market: Collage and Sculpture by Kobi, Equator, New York, NY, USA (solo)
1978: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1978:
The Animal Kingdom in Art Works, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY, USA
1971: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1971:
The Museum of Modern Art, Art Lending Services, MoMA Penthouse and Time-Life Building, New York, NY, USA
1970: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1970:
Art sent to United States Embassy Residence in Budapest, The Museum of Modern Art, Circulating Exhibitions Department, New York, NY, USA
1962: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1962:
Paintings by Kobayashi, Gima's Gallery, Honolulu, HI, USA (solo)
1957: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1957:
Opening, Painting-Sculpture, Brata Gallery, New York, NY, USA, Robert Kobayashi was a founding member of Brata Gallery
1956: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1956:
June Salon-120 Sculptors Painters, Camino Gallery, New York, NY, USA
1954 - 1955: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1954-1955:
Japanese Exhibition House, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, USA
1952: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1952:
Artists of Hawaii, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, HI, USA
1950: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1950:
Fifteen Unknowns-1950, Kootz Gallery, New York, NY, USA
23 New Painters Presented by John Ferren, Argent Gallery, New York, NY, USA
1948: Robert Kobayashi Exhibitions in 1948:
20th Annual Honolulu Artists Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of the Arts, Honolulu, HI, USA

Public Collections

: Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, ME
: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
: Honolulu Museum of Art, Honolulu, HI
: Microsoft Art Collection, Redmond, WA
: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
: Nassau County Museum of Art, Roslyn, NY
: Oahu Country Club, Honolulu, HI
: Prudential, Newark, NJ

Literature

2020: Scott, Andrea K. “At the Galleries,” Robert Kobayashi, The New Yorker, September, p. 7 (illustration).
: Fujimori, Manami, Robert Kobayashi: Moe’s Meat Market, Susan Inglett Gallery, NY, YomiTime, September, Cover and p. 4 (illustrations).
: Media: Yau, John. Hyperalleric, “How Robert Kobayashi Elevated the Tin Can,” Art/Weekend, 12 September (Illustrations).
: Smith, Roberta. "Galleries," Robert Kobayashi, The York Times, Friday, October 30, 2020 (illustration).
2019: Smith, Roberta/Critic’s Notebook. “Miracles on 53 rd Street, as MoMA Reopens,” Artist’s Choice, Amy Sillman: ‘The Shape of Shape’,” The New York Times, Weekend Arts II, Welcome Back, MoMA, Friday, 18 October, pp. C18-C19 (illustration).
: Farago, Jason and Herrington, Nicole. “There’s So Much Art To Take In This Season, “Artist as Curator ‘Amy Sillman: The Shape of Shape’ at the Museum of Modern Art, The New York Times, Friday, 29 November, pp.C16-C-17.
: DeSantis, Alicia. “Inside Culture, The Queue: Amy Sillman’s Room at MoMA, Art, The New York Times, Sunday, 29 December, p.4 (illustration).
: Media: artnetNews, “See Stunning Photos of MoMA’s New Galleries That Show How the Museum Has Reimagined the History of Modern Art, “Illustration of “The Artist’s Choice: Amy Sillman” gallery at MoMA, Image: Ben Davis, 11 October.
2017: Media: Yau, John., Hyperallergic, Museums/Weekend, 15 January. http://hyperallergic.com/351444/no-point-of-view-is-the-best-view-of-all-artists-working-between-1952-1965-many-of-whom-are-forgotten/
2015: Media: Curbed National: Curbed NY, 16 Iconic Creations by Architects and Designers in Love, 14 February, ny.curbed.com/tags/curbed-national
2014: Media: Robinson, Garrett Buhl, City Angels, Robert Kobayashi’s Retrospective Exhibit, 4 August, AskANewYorker, Founder and Director Kennedy Moore,www.askanewyorker.com/garrett-robinson/city-angels-robert-kobayashis-retrospective-exhibit/
: Media: Robinson, Garrett Buhl, Robert Kobayashi, the Angel at Elizabeth and Prince, 4 April, AskANewYorker, Founder and Director Kennedy Moore. www.askanewyorker.com/garrett-robinson/robert-kobayashi-angel-elizabeth-prince/
: Media: Mallonee, Laura C., “Where Less Is More: Lauren Moffatt’s Upper East Side Duplex,” Scene Magazine, April. http://scenemag.com/2014/04/where-less-is-more-lauren-moffatts-upper-east-side-duplex/
2012: Media: Shofuso at the Museum of Modern Art 1954-1955, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, A short documentary film about the Japanese House on exhibition at Museum of Modern Art, NYC. 16mm, 18 minutes. YouTube - Uploaded 14 February 2012.
2007: Media: Brooklyn, NY. Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Bridge and the Brooklyn Museum: Spanning Art and History. Kobayashi’s painting, The Brooklyn Bridge, from permanent collection.
: Media: NYC. New York University, Washington Square East Windows, Robert Kobayashi: American Landscapes, 13 April-28 May.
2003: Media: NYC. New York University, Broadway Windows, Moonflowers, 4 April-18 May.

Performances

2016: Castro, Jan Garden, Holding Down the Sky, a poem written for an artwork by Robert Kobayashi and sung by Concetta Abbate as both Castro and Abbate perform on Bertoia’s sonambient sculpture at MAD-Museum of Arts and Design, NYC, 24 June.

Robert Kobayashi

(American, 1925–2015)

Robert Kobayashi

Robert Kobayashi

Robert Kobayashi

Robert Kobayashi

Robert Kobayashi

Robert Kobayashi

Biography

Timeline

Exhibitions

Public Collections

Literature

Performances

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