R O B E R T S C H E F M A N Contact: info@robertschefman.com
BORN 1952 Detroit, Michigan
EDUCATION
2006 University of Iowa, MFA
1976 University of Iowa, MA
1974 Michigan State University, BFA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 Robert Kidd Gallery
2005 Meadow Brook Art Gallery, Oakland University, Rochester, MI
2004 Krasl Art Center, Saint Joseph, MI
Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
2002 Midland Center For The Arts, Midland, MI
2001 Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
2000 Birmingham/Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI
1997 Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1995 Charach/ Epstien Museum Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI
1994 Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1991 Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1984 Aesthetic Arrest, New York, NY
1983 Turkish Mission to the United Nations, UN Plaza, New York, NY
1982 Sculpture for the Ancient Gates of Troy, Troy, Turkey
1979 Art in Public Places, Saginaw Art Museum, Saginaw, MI
1976 Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, IA
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2009 Bods, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Art Miami 2009, Timothy Yarger Gallery
Monochrome, Manifest Creative Research Gallerey, Cincinnati, OH
The Bra Show, Charach Museum Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI
Corpus Maximus, Yarger Strauss Contemporary, Beverly Hills, CA
Group Exhibition, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
CCS Scholarship Exhibition, Detroit Artist Market, Detroit, MI
2008 Group Exhibition, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birminham, MI
Antigone, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Chai Lighting, Charach/Epstein Museum Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI
2007 Creativity Out of Conflict, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Driven: Art From the Motor City, Copper County Community Arts
Center, Hancock, MI
2006 In Response, Charach/Epstein Museum Gallery, W. Bloomfield, MI
MFA Show, University of Iowa Art Museum, Iowa City, IA
Realism, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
CCS at 100, College For Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2005 Group Exhibition, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
2004 Variations on a Violin, Padziewski Gallery, Dearborn, MI
New Realism II, Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Head Count, College for Creative Studies, traveling exhibition
2003 Senses of Reality, Starkweather Art Center, Romeo, MI
Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
2002 Robert Berman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Robert Kidd Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Celebrate, Charach/ Epstein Museum, West Bloomfield, MI
2001 In Our Midst, Padzieski Gallery, Ford Arts Center, Dearborn, MI
Made in Michigan, Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Rochester,MI
Post Card Show, Charach/ Epstein Museum, West Bloomfield, MI
2000 Sex, Detroit Contemporary, Detroit,MI
Really Big Show, Charach/ Epstien Museum, West Bloomfield, MI
Exhibition 2000, BBAC, Birmingham, MI
1999 Body and Soul , Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Rochester,MI
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham,MI
1998 Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
National Society of Mural Painters, Art Students League, NYC, NY
Governors’ Awards for Art, ArtServe Michigan, Detroit, MI
1997 Michigan Council For The Arts Exhibition Project, Lansing, MI
BBAA 40th Anniversary Show, Birmingham, MI
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1996 Michigan Fine Arts Competition, BBAA, Birmingham, MI
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham , MI
Eva Cohon Gallery, Chicago, ILL
1995 Interventions, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit,MI
Carbonari, Michigan Gallery, Detroit, MI
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham , MI
Romantic Allegory, Detroit Artists Market, Detroit, MI
1994 Michigan Fine Art Exhibition, BBAA, Birmingham, MI
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Willis Gallery, Detroit, MI
1993 Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
Friends for Focus, Benefit Exhibition, Farmington Hills, MI
1992 First Night Exhibition, Birmingham, MI
Figurative/Narrative, Struve Gallery, Chicago, IL
Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1990 Art for Life, Cantor/Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1989 Cantor/Lemberg Gallery, Birmingham, MI
1988 Figurative Painting in the 80's, Ruggiero/Henis Gallery, NY, NY
1984 The Dead Blimpie Show, New York, NY
1983 Modern Mythology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, NY
Terminal New York, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Brooklyn, NY
1982 Wards Island, O.I.A., New York, NY
1981 Foley Square/Federal Plaza, New York, NY
1980 On Wards Island, O.I.A., New York, NY
Sculpture Space at Utica College, Utica, New York, NY
GRANTS
2004 Benard L. Maas Prize, Benard L. Maas Foundation, Detroit, MI
2001 Artists Grant, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, MI
1999 ArtServe Michigan, Creative Artist Grant, State of MI
1996 Arts Foundation of Michigan, Detroit, MI
1995 Pollack-Krasner Foundation, New York, NY
1979 Sculpture Space Inc., Utica, New York
1976 Graduate Senate Research Grant, Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City., IA
COMMISSIONS
2002-present, (private commissions)
2001 Sculpture "Verdi" for Ford Performing Arts Center, Dearborn, MI
1998 Mural for Detroit Country Day School, Birmingham, MI
1997 Mural for 19th District Courthouse, Dearborn, MI
1996 Painting for Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit,
Mural for “Tribute”, Farmington , MI
1995 Sculpture, Blaw/ Knox Corporation, Matoon, IL
1994 Painting, Rattlesnake Club, Detroit, MI
1993 Mural, Robert Schmier, Boca Raton, FL
Mural for "Stelline," Troy, MI
1990 Sculpture for "Tres Vite," Detroit, MI
1989 Sculpture for "The Rattlesnake Club," Detroit, MI
1985 Outdoor Sculpture, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
1977 Outdoor Sculpture, Abba Friedman, Birmingham, MI
1976 Outdoor Sculpture, M. M. Smith, Bloomfield Hills, MI
1975 Outdoor Sculpture, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
1974 Bronze Bust, Cooley Law School, Lansing, MI
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2003-10 Chair, Foundation Department, College For Creative Studies,
Detroit, MI
1999-10 Studio Instructor, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2000-01 Director of The Creative Artist Grant Program for State of
Michigan/ArtServePartnership.
1994-00 Studio Course Instructor, Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center,
Birmingham, MI.
1980-89 Independent shop in NYC, creating special projects for:
Bummy-Huss Paper, developing hydraulic pressing process for casting paper sculptures. Projects for; Claes Oldenburg,
George Segal, Miriam Shapiro, Suzanne Anker, Lynda
Benglis, Bryan Hunt, Ron Gorchov, Jud Nelson, Hanna Wilke,
Sandy Skoglund and others. Special installations for Whitney
Museum of Art.
1984-89 Instructed Life Drawing Studio Courses, New York, NY
1983-84 Mentoring Artist / Studio Assistant program, Coe College,
New York Extension, NY, NY
1983 Guest Lecturer, Coe College, New York Extension, New York, NY
1982 Visiting Artist, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
1981 Guest Lecturer, Artists Talk on Art, New York, NY
1980 Artist in Residence, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT
1979 Visiting Artist, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT
DANCE/ THEATER SETS
1996 “Torch Song Trilogy”, Jet Theater, W. Bloomfield, MI
1985 “The Dark Ride”, Kinematic Dance Company,
St. Marks Dancespace, NY, NY
1984 “Trapped in Queens”, Bebe Miller and Company, Dance Theater
Workshop, NY, NY
1983 “Kenematic Dance Company”, Dance Theater Workshop,
New York, NY
1982 “Home Movies”, Kenematic Dance Company, P.S. 122,
New York, NY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Manifest Volume Thirty-Nine", Manifest Press, 2009
Azzopardi, Chris," 'Bods' exhibit rethinks the figure", Between The Lines,
October 15, 2009
"Corpus Maximus", American Art Collector, May, 2009, pp.166-167
Cover; American Art Collector, December, 2008
Manisto, Glen, "Perfect Bodies", Metro Times, December 17, 2008, p.30
"Robert Schefman: Religion And Politics", American Art Collector, December,
2008, pp.130-133
"The Savy Collector's Preview Guide", American Art Collector, November, 2008, p.52
Nawrocki, Dennis, "Art In Detroit Public Places, Third Edition", Wayne State University Press, 2008
Del Valle, "Stage and Canvas", Real Detroit Weekly, February 20, 2008, p.56
Walt, Irene, "The Healing Work of Art", Detroit Receiving Hospital, 2007, p.58
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “Critics’ Choice”, The Detroit News, February 17, 2006, p.6F
Barack, Linda, “Impassioned Curators”, Style Magazine, January, 2006, p. 69
Gerak, Sally, “Social Lights”, Birmingham Observer & Eccentric, October 16, 2005, p.C2
Sousanis, Nick, “Robert Schefman @ Meadow Brook Gallery”, The Detroiter.com,
September 25, 2005
Cohen, Keri Guten, “Artworks Carry Diverse Messages”, Detroit Free Press,
September 25, 2005 p. 5K
Hill, Christina, “Bearing It All”, Metro Times, September 28, 2005, p.35
Stafford, Nicole, “Wistful, Yet Twitchy”, Birmingham Eccentric, September 15, 2005,
p. D5-D14
Konstantin, Lynne, “Painting With Feeling”, Detroit Jewish News, September 8, 2005,
pp.42-43
Cover: “Life of Illusion”, Detroit Jewish News, September 8, 2006
Metro Times, September 7, 2005, “Arts Issue”, p.34 (photo)
Cohen, Keri Guten, “Artists Known Locally, Globally”, Detroit Free Press,
August 28, 2005, p.5E
Freer, Julie, “What’s old is new again”, The Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle,
August 24, 2005, pp. 34A-36A
Mazzei, Rebecca, “Healing Work”, Metro Times, August 17, 2005, p. 24
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “DIA Introduces the art of a 17th century Dutch Master”,
The Detroit News, February 17, 2005, pp. 1E-5E
Cohen, Keri Guten, “View some famous, not-so-famous art”, The Detroit Free Press,
February 6, 2005, p.7E
Sousanis, Nick, “Robert Schefman at Robert Kidd Gallery”, TheDetroiter.com”,
January 15, 2005
“The Way WE Live”, The Detroit Free Press, January 18, 2005, p.2D
Cohen, Keri Guten, “Murano glass, Katz works brighten winter”, The Detroit Free Press,
January 9, 2005, p.5F
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “ Metro Detroit painter offers new take on Old Masters”,
The Detroit News, December 30, 2004, p.1G
Metro Times, “Arts Issue”, September 22, 2004, pp. 20 (photo), p. 34
Wallace, San Dee, “Mixed Media at the Krasl”, The Herald-Palladium, July 22, 2004,
pp. 1D-6D
“Gallery Hopping”, The News Herald, Feb. 21, 2004
Mandel, Edward, “ Romeo Gallery to Display Work of Six Artists”, The Source,
May 4, 2003, pp. A1-A5
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “ Painting Shows Have Modern Vision Inspired By Old World
Masters”, The Detroit News, October 26, 2001, p.5E
Cohen, Keri Guten, “Galleries”, The Detroit Free Press, October 21, 2001, p.7F
Rhein, Alice, “Brothers in Arts”, Birmingham Eccentric, October 21, 2001, pp. C1-C2
Provenzano, Frank, “The Art of Friendship”, The Detroit Free Press,
October 4, 2001, pp. 1C-4C
Provenzano, Frank, "A View From Robert Land", Birmingham Eccentric,
September 10, 2000
"The List", The Detroit Free Press, September 13, 2000, p.
"Art Decade" , Detroit Jewish News, September 8,2000, p.70
"Controversial Mural Goes on Display", The Detroit News, January 29, 2000, p.1C
Colby, Joy Hakanson, "Artist will Replace Mural Amid School Controversy",
The Detroit News, January 29, 2000, p.1E
Colby, Joy Hakanson, " U.S. School Violence Prompts School to Remove Mural",
The Detroit News, January 21, 2000,p.1
Provenzano, Frank, " BBAC Showcases Region's Most Influential Artists",
Birmingham Eccentric , January 16, 2000, p.1C
Provenzano, Frank, "A Figurative Statement", Birmingham Eccentric , October 3,
1999, p.1
Burnett,Linda, "Movable Feast", Contract Design, March 1999, p.64
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “Artist bares his soul”, The Detroit News , April 6, 1998, pg.3B
Provenzano, Frank. “Remembering the people behind the stories”, Birmingham Eccentric,
December 28, 1997, pg.1D
Colby, Joy Hakanson, “ Exhibits; Robert Schefman”, The Detroit News , December 11,
1997, 1F
Guten Cohen, Keri. “Censorship Inspires Work in ‘Rated X’ Exhibition”,
Detroit Free Press, November 30, 1997, p.3H
Provenzano, Frank. “The Naked Truth”, Birmingham Eccentric, November 16, 1997,p.1D
Detroit Legal News , Vol.CII No. 205, October 14, 1997, p.1
"Court Mural Nears Completion” , Dearborn Press , August 28, 1997, p. 18B
Ilka, Douglas. “ Jury Experience inspires Artist to do Justice to Court’s Walls”,
The Detroit News , July 25, 1997, p.1C
Krodel, Beth. “ Mural Dilema” , The Detroit Free Press , June 4, 1997 , p.1B
Thompson, Gary,“ Choice of Court Mural Models Provokes Council Flap”, Dearborn
Times- Herald, June 4, 1997, p. 1A
“Courthouse Mural”, Dearborn Times-Herald, April 30, 1997
Provenzano, Frank. “ Painter Does Justice at New Courthouse”, Birmingham Eccentric,
May 18, 1997 p.1C
“Delicious Decor” , Style Magazine , Fall 1996 , p. 107
Colby, Joy Hakanson. “Michigan Exhibit”, The Detroit News, April 11, 1996 p.7F
Breidenbach, Cathie. “ Torch Song Trilogy”, Birmingham Eccentric,
February 22,1996 p.3B
Provenzano, Frank. “ You Can’t Hold a Torch To Robert Schefman”, Detroit Jewish News,
February 9, 1996, p.90-91
Provenzano, Frank. “ An Artful Year” , Detroit Jewish News, December 29, 1995, p.64
Jacobson, David. “ Cyberia” (photo) , The Detroit News, June 13, 1995, p.3C
Metro Times, (cover), July 12, 1995
Pasfield, Veronica. “ Show Stoppers”, Detroit Monthly, February 1995 p.22
Detroit Free Press , (photo) , January 27, 1995, Weekend Section
Provenzano, Frank. “ An Artist Finds Inspiration In Homer.” Detroit Jewish News,
February 10,1995 p. 100-101
Echlin, Hobey. “ The Year in Review ‘94: Visual Art”, Metro Times, Dec.20,1994 p.20
Klemic, Mary. “ Paintings Study Real Life Through Myths”, Birmingham Eccentric,
October 20, 1994 p.1D
Pasfield, Veronica. “ Myth and Beyond” ,Detroit Monthly, October ,1994
Artistic Freedom Under Attack, Volume 2, 1994. People for the American Way, p.12
“Your Voice Against Intolerance.” People for the American Way Annual Report,
1994, p. 21-24.
“A New Star Has Risen at Somerset.” Detroit Free Press May 21, 1993 p.7D
Mun, Kwan. “Sculptor Miffed at Cover-Up of His Nude.” Oakland Press Jan. 24, 1993.
Smith, Tim. “Experts Puzzled by Censorship.” Birmingham Eccentric, Jan.11, 1993, p1A
“Artist Angry at Cover-Up.” Detroit News, Jan.10, 1993, p6C.
Pasfield, Veronica. “Motown Lowdown.” Detroit Monthly Magazine,September,1991,p22
“Art Prices” , 7 Days Magazine , Aug. 17, 1988 , p.64 (featured photo )
Dunning, Jennifer. “Dance: Works Performed at P.S. 122.” New York Times ,Nov.19,1985
Anderson, Jack. “The Dance: Bebe Miller.” New York Times Dec. 16, 1984.
Blanck, Frederick. “He Looks at Life’s Dark Side". Detroit Free Press, Sept.15,1983, p.1B
Severo , Richard. “Fordham Sculpture”. New York Times,Sept. 28, 1983
Marzorati, Gerald. “Art Picks.” Soho News, Sept.29,1981, p28.
"An Outdoor Sculpture Safari in the City.” New York Times Aug. 7, 1981.
“Vaughan Meader.” The Washington Post Magazine, Nov. 4, 1979, p30. (photo)
