Robert Pokorny creates paintings and drawings that depict recurring stylized characters – bearded men and confident white-haired women – engaged in everyday activities such as reading a book, eating an ice cream cone, drinking a cup of coffee or smoking a joint. He simplifies the composition with strong lines, striking color, repeated marks and patterns to suggest various emotional states. According to the artist, “The portraits are not meant to depict one person in particular but rather are pictures of us all. They allow me to engage with great painters of the past, to tap into my own emotions, and to relate them to the outer world. They might seem absurd or humorous, but they are always sincere.

Born 1969, Merced, California
Lives and works in Los Angeles

Education
2011
MFA, California State University, Long Beach

Solo Exhibitions
2023
No Running by the Pool, Steve Turner, Los Angeles
Inside Out, Steve Turner, Los Angeles

2022
CAN Art Fair, Ibiza (with Johansson Projects)
Expo Chicago (with Johansson Projects)

2021
Thinking, Staring & Smoking, Johansson Projects, Oakland

2020
Modern Guilt & Blue Skies, Ampersand Gallery, Portland

2019
Dialogue, Ampersand Gallery, Portland

2015
Primitives, AUREUS Contemporary, SCOPE Miami

2010
SATURATION, Max L. Gatov Gallery, Long Beach

2008
Select New Works, Thinkspace, Los Angeles

Transitions, M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs

2007
The Red Zone, Alpha Cult, Long Beach

Group Exhibitions
2023
Untitled, Miami Beach (with Steve Turner)
ART021 Shanghai (with Steve Turner)

2022
NBB Paperworks Vol III, NBB Gallery, Berlin
Untitled Art, Miami (Johansson Projects)

2021
Untitled Art, Miami (Johansson Projects)
It’s Smaller Than I Thought, Safe and Sound Gallery, Burlington, Vermont
Left Coast Connection, Ringling College of Art + Design, Englewood, Florida

2020
Summer Spectacular, Hey There Projects, Joshua Tree
Within the Distance, Johansson Projects, Oakland

2018
Derivations, Art on Paper, Aureus Contemporary, New York

2017
Land Purchase, Ampersand Gallery, Portland
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Primitives/Derivations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Basel, Switzerland
Thanks For Sharing – The Art of Instant, Global Inspiration, Port Townsend, Washington
Derivations/Formations/Primitives, Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Aureus Contemporary, Miami

2016
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Primitives, Art Copenhagen, Aureus Contemporary, Copenhagen
Primitives, ArtSouthampton, Aureus Contemporary, Bridgehampton, New York
Primitives/Derivations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Basel
Primitives/Derivations, ARTNY, Aureus Contemporary, New York
Primitives/Derivations, Art Wynwood, Aureus Contemporary, Miami

2015
Primitives, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Derivations/Formations, Aqua Art Fair, Aureus Contemporary, Miami
Primitives, Texas Contemporary, Aureus Contemporary, Houston
Primitives, Art Fair Cologne (with Aureus Contemporary)
Primitives, ArtSouthampton, Aureus Contemporary, Bridgehampton
Primitives, ArtMiami NY, Aureus Contemporary, New York
Formations, Off Course Art Fair, Brussels (with Aureus Contemporary)

2014
Derivations/Formations, SCOPE, Aureus Contemporary, Miami

2013
Five Year Anniversary Exhibition, Phone Booth Gallery, Long Beach

2012
Palos Verdes Art Center All-Media Juried Exhibition, Rolling Hills Estates

2011
2CC 10th Anniversary Celebrating a Decade of Art, 2nd City Council Art Gallery, Long Beach

2010
Insights 2010, California State University Art Museum, Long Beach

2009
Movers & Shakers, POVevolving Los Angeles

2008
Looking Glass, Thinkspace Gen Art Vanguard, Miami

Abstraction Distraction, M Modern Gallery, Palm Springs

Jump Start, Applegate Gallery, Santa Monica

2007
The Summer Show, Applegate Gallery, Santa Monica

2006
Everything but the Kitschen Sync, La Luz De Jesus, Los Angeles

The Graphic Noise Show, Museum of Design, Atlanta

Awards

2012
Palos Verdes Art Center Board of Trustees Award

2011
Beverly G. Alpay Award for Working Visual Artists

Windes & McClaughry Corporate Gallery Award

2CC 10th Anniversary Celebrating a Decade of Art 1st Place 2010 G.E.S.S. Scholarship CSULB

Dean’s Purchase Award CSULB

2009
Joy of Life Scholarship CSULB

2008
Richard and Johanna Baker Scholarship CSULB

Bibliography

2021
“Thinking, Staring & Smoking: An Interview with Robert Pokorny, Juxtapoz, July 31