The Paul R. Jones Museum is proud to present Mario Andres Robinson: A Brush with Time, May 7 – July 30, 2021. There will be two First Friday receptions: on, May 7, and on June 4, both from 5:00 to 8:00 pm in the museum.
Painter, pastellist and draftsman Mario Andres Robinson is one of the leading watercolorists working today. Born and raised in Altus, Oklahoma, Robinson moved to New Jersey as a young boy where his artistic gift was discovered by his fifth-grade teacher. He went on to study at Pratt Institute.
Although his work is in the tradition of American painting, early in his development, Robinson looked to the old masters for inspiration and technical insight. An avid student of realism, he studied the principles of painting by exploring the work and technique of artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Degas. However, it was the work of 19th- and 20th-century American artists, such as Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and Andrew Wyeth, that provided Robinson with the strongest stylistic foundation, helping him forge and define his own artistic sensibility.
In 1994, Robinson’s work began to incorporate rural subjects in Alabama. He frequently depicts subjects framed within the context of their daily lives in a direct and unsentimental way. As the painting progresses, Robinson’s relationship with the sitter develops and a uniquely personal story begins to evolve. Each painting in that vein is personal for the artist in both his selection and his execution and this approach serves as the underpinning for his figurative images.
Jones Museum director Daniel White said, “For this show, the artist himself selected the works, which range over the last 20 years. Mario has made a name for himself with his striking and restrained portraits. His work harkens back to a different era, while firmly seated in a contemporary approach.”
Robinson’s work is found in numerous private and public collections. He is an Exhibiting Artist Member (EAM) of The National Arts Club, an Artist Member of The Salmagundi Club and a Signature Member of The Pastel Society of America. The Artist’s Magazine chose Robinson as one of the top 20 realist artists under the age of 40. His work has been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, The Pastel Journal, Watercolor Magic, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur and on the cover of American Artist magazine. He is the author of Lessons in Realistic Watercolor: A Contemporary Approach to Painting People and Places in the Classical Tradition (Monacelli Press, 2016).
This exhibition is generously funded in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
The Paul R. Jones Museum is an essential part of the education and development of UA students and our community. Admission to the gallery is free. The gallery is open to the public with reduced capacity, limited to ten (10) visitors at a time. Visitors must wear face coverings inside the gallery and maintain a minimum distance of six feet from others. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on First Fridays. Call the museum at (205) 345-3038 or email the director for more information. The Paul R. Jones Museum is located at 2308 Sixth Street, in downtown Tuscaloosa, one block from the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center.
For more information about The University of Alabama’s programs in art history and studio art, visit our Degree Programs page.