Robert Winkler
Sculptor
Artists have migrated to Western North Carolina and Asheville for decades. Their reasons often include the inspiring Blue Ridge Mountains, the large artist community, the historic local support for arts, and the proximity to Penland School of Craft or Campbell Folk School. But it was the defunct Black Mountain College that was a part of Robert Winkler’s reasons for relocating from Brooklyn to Asheville in 2003.
Not long after he settled in, Robert gave the sculpture community a chance at a spotlight when he founded and curated RiverSculpture, an exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture by regional artists. In the spirit of Black Mountain College, a signature feature of the event was the collaboration with artists in other disciplines, including dance, poetry, music, and theater.
Robert’s own sculpture is visually striking and incredibly precise. His signature abstract forms do not confound the viewer as abstraction sometimes does, but instead the familiarity of materials and shapes and the movement of the total structure is intriguing, leaving the viewer new perspectives and possibilities to discover.
Winker has exhibited his sculptures in seven solo shows in New York and North Carolina, and his works have won prizes in competitions, including the 2014 Salisbury Sculpture Show. He studied at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Ohio State University, the Art Institute of Boston, and the School of Visual Arts, New York. Public art collections featuring his work include Carolina Square, Chapel Hill, NC; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA; City of Salisbury, NC; City of Durham, NC; City of Charleston, SC; Queens University, Charlotte, NC and Cleveland Institute of Art Permanent Collection, Cleveland, OH.
Whether it’s a monumental outdoor installation for a public space, a medium or large outdoor sculpture for a home landscape, to a tabletop or wall sculpture for a home interior, Robert’s multimedia works involve meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Come with Art Connections to see Robert’s home studio and available works in a lovely setting, you’re sure to enjoy this special opportunity to explore the many dimensions of abstract sculpture.
