robert freeman | about the artist
Robert Freeman has been showing nationally for over 40 years, and has been included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the National Center for African American Artists, Boston Public Library, Brown University and DeCordova Museum. His paintings have been featured in exhibitions at Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, MA.
Known for his vivid and powerful figurative paintings, Robert Freeman has traditionally focused on the interactions between people in his work. Skillful, brave use of color and gesture are the trademark of Freeman's work and make his figures nearly abstract.
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For additional details please download the,"Robert Freeman Biographical" pdf, which includes information on Robert Freeman's exhibits, works placed in collections and teaching experience.
"The African American community is as complex as any other. It has no single voice, no single way of seeing the world, and no single way of producing art, music, literature or theater. My paintings explore and celebrate the beauty, elegance and grace of the black middle class through my personal experience.
Much of my work draws inspiration from my childhood spent between two cultures: the Gold Coast, West Africa (now Ghana) and the East Coast of the United States. In my exhibition, New Works, I revisited the themes of race and culture that I explored in “Black Tie” (1981), part of a series that comments on the personal conflict I felt as African-Americans settled into middle-class life following the racial tensions of the 1960s and 1970s."
Current
Robert Freeman’s recent painting, “Marco Polo,” part of the 2021 series, "Our Struggle" is prominently exhibited at the Childs Gallery, at 168 Newbury Street, Boston. The Exhibit, "John Thompson: An Artist Collects" runs from March 11 through May 9, 2021. The show explores the connection between an artist’s practice and the art they choose to collect.
Featured Interviews
Robert Freeman was featured on WGBH's Open Studio with Jared Bowen. You can watch the video on WBGH's website.
Robert Freeman was featured on Capital Community News in an article which features the artist's view on when a work is complete and reviews Freeman's show at the Zenith Gallery.
Watch the video of Robert Freeman talking about his painting, "Talking Drums", which was on exhibit as part of the, "Community of Artists" exhibition at Danforth Art. The "Community of Artists" show ran from June 9 - August 4, 2013.
The painting "Black Tie," which is part of Robert Freeman's, "Social Season" series, was on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Watch Robert Freeman describe his creative process in a video from Rochester's WXXI-TV.
You can also watch the TV interview with Robert Freeman that was broadcast on WCSH, Channel 6, Portland, Maine.
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