My painting and public art practice examines an evolving relationship between nature and culture through the depiction of invented spatial environments. I utilize tropes from art history, science fiction, film, and quotidian life to create an uncanny form of realm.
From grand landscapes to intricate still-lives, my work addresses the impact of humanity on the landscape and questions our relationship to it. Saccharin sunsets and dense, a-natural foliage show a hyper-naturalism that mirrors the climate crisis.
I create imagery by collaging found and personal photographs in Photoshop, altering them, and then translating those compositions to the canvas through a range of techniques—stencils, hand painting, airbrushing, spray painting, and silk screen. This intervention complicates what’s natural and what’s contrived in the painting. I’m drawn to the artificially flat nature of acrylic paints and their properties, which is often in contrast to the subjects I depict.
My naturalism is one that is tethered to the rich traditions of Western painting, while striving to forge new interpretations of beauty and the sublime.
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Robert Minervini received his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and his BFA from Tyler School of Art. His work has been exhibited internationally, including solo shows with Hirschl & Adler Modern, NYC; Edward Cella Gallery, LA; Rena Bransten Gallery, SF; as well as group and two-person exhibitions with the San José Museum of Art, Torrance Art Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Palo Alto Art Center, Schneider Museum of Art, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Minervini has completed multiple murals and public art commissions nationally including through the San Francisco Arts Commission, The Alameda County Arts Commission, and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. He has been a resident artist at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, the Headlands Center of the Arts, the Vermont Studio Center. His art has been published in New American Paintings (No. 91 and No. 109), Beautiful Decay, and Mural Art: Large Scale Art from Walls around the World. My work has been reviewed in the LA Times, Modern Painters, San Francisco Chronicle, Art ltd., and featured in ArtWeek LA, 7x7 Magazine, and The Huffington Post. Minervini’s work is in the collections of the San José Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, the City and County of San Francisco, and many private and corporate collections.
Robert Minervini currently lives and works in Florence, Italy & Oakland, California.
Photo Credit: Peter Prato
ROBERT MINERVINI robertminervini.com
robertminervini@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2009 •MFA, The San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
2005 •BFA, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2003 •Tyler School of Art, Rome, Italy
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 • L’Attesa, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, California
2019 • Future Collapse, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, California
• New Monuments, Hirschl and Adler Modern, New York, New York
• Crystal Palace, Local Language, Oakland, California
2017 • Life in the Shadows, Edward Cella Gallery, Culver City, California
• Improvised Gardens, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, California
2016 • Speed x Distance x Time, Sandpoint Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
2015 • Invisible Reflections, Rena Bransten Projects, San Francisco, California
2013 • Until Tomorrow Comes, Marine Contemporary, Venice, California
•After Glow: As the Wick Burns, Electric Works, San Francisco, California
2012 • On the Nature of Things, Marine Contemporary, Venice, California
2009 • A Means to an End, Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, California
TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2024 • Union Oppositorum, Spring Break Art Show, Culver City, California
2016 •California Utopias: Shifting Perspectives at the Edge of the West, City College of San Francisco, SF, California
2014 •Terminal Sunset, Littman Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
2012 •Hymns to the Moon, Johansson Projects, Oakland, California
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 •I Cast To Earth a Seed, Galleri Urbane, Dallas, Texas
2023 •Post Print Media, Galleria Il Bisonte- Institute for Printmaking, Florence, Italy
•There is Magic Here, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, California
•No Dead Artists, 27th Annual International Juried Exhibition, Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana
•Room with a View, Hashimoto Contemporary, New York, New York
•Lush, Hashimoto Contemporary, New York, New York
2022 • 20 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Root Division, San Francisco, California
• Angels in the Architecture, Talon Gallery, Portland, Oregon
• Poison Garden, Antler Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2020 • South East North West: New Works from the Collection, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, California
2019 • Reinventing the Real, Hirschl and Adler Modern, New York, NY
2018 • Both Directions at Once: Kala Fellowship Exhibition, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California
• San Diego: The Architecture of Four Ecologies, The La Jolla Historical Society, La Jolla, California
• Group Hang: Print Edition, Minnesota Street Projects, San Francisco, California
• A Sentimental Mood, First Amendment Gallery, San Francisco, California
• 15-year Anniversary Exhibition, Root Division, San Francisco, California
2017 • California Connections: Selections from the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, California
• Group Hang, Facebook Residency 5 year Anniversary Exhibtion, The Lab, San Francisco, California
2016 • Local II, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco, California
• Vestiges, Gauntlet Gallery, San Francisco, California
2015 • Bird in Hand, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, California
• Radical Landscapes, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, Napa, California
• In This Place, C2C Projects, San Francisco, California
2015 • Forgetting the Future: Entropy in the Reflective Age, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, California
• Transactions, Spring/Break Art Show, New York, New York
2014 • Space//Squared, White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, California
•Local, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco, California
• Home: Shelter and Habitat in Contemporary Art, Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, OR & Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, California
2013 • New Acquisitions, Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, California
2011 • Bay Area Now 6, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California
• ROY G BIV, Waterhouse and Dodd, New York, New York
• Call & Response, Root Division, San Francisco, California (Curated and Participated)
2010 • Salon No.5, Marine Contemporary Art Salon, Santa Monica, California
• Magic Window, Verge Gallery, Sacramento, California
2009 • Brooklyn Utopias, Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn, New York
• Introductions, Root Division, San Francisco, California
• Master Pieces, National Juried Exhibition, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2008 • The Immediate Future, The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, California
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020 • Visiting Faculty, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
2019 • Visiting Faculty, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
2017 • Visiting Faculty, "Get out of Your Studio: Painting and Sculpture in Public Spaces" Graduate Topic Seminar, San Francisco Art Institute, California
2016 • Visiting Lecturer, Figure Drawing / Beginning Painting / Graduate Tutorials, University of Washington, School of Art+Art History + Design, Seattle, Washington
2014 • Lecturer, Design 160, Art and Art History Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California, Spring & Fall
• Painting & Drawing Instructor, Adult Education Program, City College of San Francisco, California, 2012 – 2014
• Painting Instructor, Public Education Program, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
2013 • Printmaking Instructor, The Oxbow School, Napa, California. Summer Program 2013 & 2012
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2024 • Print Feature, “Art Notes,” Anspon, Catherine D. Paper City Magazine, Pg.66, January / February Issue, Dallas, Texas
2019 • Print & Online Feature, Whiting, Sam, "San Francisco skyline stars in mosaic at newly opened “SFO terminal"
San Francisco Chronicle, Datebook Section, 7.25.19
• Online Feature, Duran, Doug, "Large-scale mural on Castro Valley underpass" Mercury News, 7.19.19
• Print Feature, American Art Collector Magazine, March 2019
2018 • Review, Daichendt, James, "2018 Shows us what San Diego's art scene aspires to be" San Diego Union Tribune, Critic's pick. December 23, 2018
2017 • Print Feature, Art Maze Magazine, Issue #3, London, England
2015 • Print Feature, Centerfold Feature, Could:Painting What's Possible, The Atlantic Magazine, October Issue
• Review, Morris, Barbara, Robert Minervini: "Invisible Reflections" at Rena Bransten Projects" Art Ltd Magazine, September Issue
• Print Feature, Curiel, Jonathan, "Hurray for William McKinley," SF Weekly, Wednesday, 5.6.15
• Print Feature, Whiting, Sam, "Painter Tells Stories Behind Golden Gate Park Statues," SF Chronicle, Front Page Datebook Section, 4.9.15
• Online Feature, Whiting, Sam, "Park Meets Market Street in Poster Series," sfgate.org, 3.26.15
• Artist Feature, Worth Magazine, San Francisco Edition, April
2014 • Review, Abrahams, Megan, Robert Minervini: Until Tomorrow Comes, Art Pulse Magazine, No.18, Vol. 5
2013 • Review, Leah Ollman, "Utopia and Dystopia vie in Robert Minervini landscapes," LA Times, 12.24.13
• Art Feature, Bush, Bill, "A Room With Nine Views," www.huffingtonpost.com /Artweek, 12.16.13
• Review, Cheng, Dewitt, Art Ltd Magazine, Critic's pick. May Issue
• Review, Bigman, Alex, Four New Art Shows Explore Civilization and Decay, 7x7 Magazine, 5.8.13
• Review, Wright Hession, Stephanie, "Robert Minervini Art at Electric Works," S.F.Chronicle, 5.16.13
2012 • Art Feature, Feinstein, Lea, Focus: Oakland, Art Ltd Magazine, pg. 28-29, May/June Issue
• Review, Carey, Anna, Johansson Projects presents surreal, sci-fi visions, The Daily Californian, 4.9.13
• Art Feature, Bigman, Alex, Four April Art Shows to Keep You Busy, 7x7 Magazine, 4.3.12
• Review, Nataraj, Nirmala, "Hymns to the Moon': Celebrating phases on Earth," SF Chronicle, pg. G-7, 5.22.12
• Review, Meyers, Holly, Modern Painters, April Issue, Page. 86
• Review, "Robert Minervini's Still Lifes Examine 'The Nature Of Things," www.huffingtonpost.com, 1.25.12
• Art Feature, Bush, Bill www.huffingtonpost.com, 1.16.12
PUBLIC LECTURES
2018 •Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, Sonoma State University, Sonoma, California
2017 •Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
2016 •Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, Clark College, Vancouver, Washington
2015 •Visiting Artist, Undergraduate Professional Practices, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, California
•Visiting Artist, Professional Practices Graduate Course, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
•Visiting Artist, Undergraduate Advanced Painting, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
2014 •Public Lecture, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
2013 •Public Lecture, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, Nebraska
•Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri
•Visiting Artist, Graduate Lecture Series, Professional Practices, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California
2012 •Visiting Artist, Undergraduate Professional Practices, San Francisco State,San Francisco, California
2011 •Public Lecture, The New Natural, Bay Area Now 6, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California
•Visiting Artist, Undergraduate Painting Seminar, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
AWARDS, COMMISSIONS & RESIDENCIES
2023 • Artist in Residence, Thomas Wood Artist Residency, Il Bisonte - Institute for Printmaking, Florence, Italy
2019 • Public Art Commission, SFO Airport Terminal 1 Project, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
• Public Art Commission, Mural Painting Castro Valley, CA, Alameda County Arts Commission, Oakland, California
• Artist in Residence, Local Language, Oakland, California
2017 • Kala Fellowship Award, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California
2015 • Public Art Commission, Passport, The San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
• Public Art Commission, Art on Market Street, The San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
2014 • Artist in Residence, Facebook Analog Research Lab, Facebook Headquarters, Menlo Park, California
• Artist in Residence, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, California
2013 • Artist in Residence, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, Nebraska
2010 • Artist in Residence, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, 2009-2010
• Public Art Commission, Art in Storefronts, Chinatown, The San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
2009 • Artist in Residence, The Project Space, The Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, California
2008 • Murphy & Cadogan Fellowship, The San Francisco Foundation, San Francisco, California
2007 • Artist in Residence, The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
CATALOGUES & PUBLICATIONS
2023 •Print Feature, Arts in Square, Volume 5
•Print Feature, Friend of the Artist, Volume 17 (Cover Image)
2015 •Print Feature, Paint Pulse Magazine, Issue #1, Boston, Massachusetts
•Print Feature, Lumina Journal, Vol. XIV, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York
2013 •Print Feature, New American Paintings, No.109, Pacific Coast edition, Open Studios Press, Boston, Massachusetts
•Exhibition Catalogue, Until Tomorrow Comes, Marine Contemporary, Venice, California
2012 •Print Feature, Cover Image, Studio Visit Magazine, Vol.16, The Open Studios Press, Boston, Massachusetts
•Exhibition Catalogue, On the Nature of Things, Marine Contemporary, Venice, California
2011 •Print Feature Book 6: Future Perfect, Beautiful Decay Magazine
•Print Feature, The Panhandler Magazine, Issue #5, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
2010 •Print Feature, New American Paintings, No.91, Pacific Coast edition, The Open Studios Press, Boston, Massachusetts
•Exhibition Catalogue, Year One, Marine Contemporary Art Salon, Santa Monica, California
2009 •Exhibition Catalogue, Master Pieces, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2008 •Print Feature, Mural Art: Large Scale Art from Walls Around the World, Kiriakos Iosifidis, Adbusters
COLLECTIONS
•San José Museum of Art, San Jose, California
•Il Bisonte- Institute for Printmaking, Florence, Italy
•City and County of San Francisco Art Collection, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
•City and County of San Francisco Public Art Collection, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
•Alameda County Public Art Collection, Alameda County Arts Commission, California
•Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, California
•Royal Caribbean Cruises, Corporate Art Collection
•Cal Poly, Special Collections and Archives, San Luis Obispo, California
•Ellie Mae, Pleasanton, California
•Facebook, Menlo Park, California
•General Hospital, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, California
•Qualcomm, San Diego, California
•Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn, New York