Biography
Temple of Heaven, 2015
"I see my art operating like "feedback loops" between myself and life as a creative journey.”
“Portfolio”, Elan Magazine, 1990.
Overview
Robert M. Hopkins is an American artist, currently living in Beijing, China. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hopkins grew up in Davis, California and received his formal art training in Southern California. In graduate school, his
art focused on "wall constructions" that explored the sculptural terrain between shapes and painting. His M.A. show was comprised of wall constructions and collages, entitled Shifting Fragments.
His M.F.A. show presented Secular Templates, a more industrial approach to wall constructions.
After receiving his M.F.A. from Claremont Graduate University, he moved to downtown Los Angeles, where he lived and worked before moving to Beijing, China in 2004.
"‘Sparks of chaos’ for some people may actually be ‘sparks of creativity’ for others. For myself, there is no such thing as ‘chaos’— only ‘creative chaos’."
Studio Portrait, 2004
Los Angeles
In downtown Los Angeles, Hopkins pursued a reductive approach to art making, using raw sheets of door skin for floor and wall sculptures, Door Skin Sculptures. He
also experimented with various "process art" approaches, Process-Work Series, before focusing on wall sculptures that utilized rust-stained canvas
stretched over wood-ribbed forms, Rust-Stained Series. Eventually, he incorporated colored fabric into his work, Heterosis Series and
his wood-ribbed forms evolved into twisting loops, inspired by notions of circadian rhythms, Circadian Loops. Arranged in scattered clusters on the
wall, they suggested figurative forms in gymnast-like movement.
"The wider your orbit in life, the wider your understanding of life.”
Studio Portrait, 2022
Beijing
In 2004, Hopkins moved to China, inspired by finding romance in Beijing and discovering a new culture. During an initial period of assimilation, Hopkins produced a series of drawings, entitled Sketchbook Studies. Eventually, his new works on paper, Blind Insights, emerged with a collage approach that integrated his previous explorations of wall sculptures.
Hopkins’s work continues to grow, with an evolving interest in circadian movement and contemplation. In addition to Blind Insights, his current body of work also includes: Inner Navigations (drawings), Cornucopia (watercolors), Syncopations (watercolor collages), Tea Passages (tea-pigment paintings), and more recently, the digital-photography series of Microcosms, Macrocosms and Wallscapes.
RESUME
EDUCATION
Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA: M.F.A. Sculpture
California State University, Fullerton, CA: B.F.A. Studio Art & M.A. Painting
SELECTED ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
1998 "Calibrations", Renshaw Gallery, Linfield College, McMinnville, OR
"Hybrid Vigor", John N Joe Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1997 "Heterosis", Hello Artichoke Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1996 "Osmosis", San Jose City College Gallery, CA
1994 "Vestiges & Constructions”, Whittier College Gallery, CA.
1990 "Secular Templates", West Gallery, Claremont Graduate School, CA
1988 "Shifting Fragments", C.S.U. Fullerton, CA
1986 "Inner Stakes", Exit Gallery, C.S.U. Fullerton, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2004 "Art Auction", Conservatory of Visual Arts, CSULA, Los Angeles, CA
2003 "$200 Show", Andrew-Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2002 "The Big Wave IV", Andrew-Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001 "lines & signs", Burning Lotus Studios, Los Angeles, CA
"Robert Hopkins/Joshua Elias", ANDLAB, Los Angeles, CA
2000 "sextet in the key of space", Burning Lotus, Los Angeles, CA
1999 "5th Holiday Show", Ruth Bachofner Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"Intimate Images", Community Gallery, Thousand Oaks, CA
"Big Wave II", Andrew-Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Open Spectrum", APC Fine Arts/Graphics Gallery, Gardena, CA
"Circular Logic", I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles,CA
"Passageways”, Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
"Ninety-Nine", Miller Durazo Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1998 "One Night Stand", Gallery 207, Los Angeles, CA
"Vessels for the Journey", Angels Gate Cult. Center, San Pedro, CA
"One Night Stand 7", Farmer’s Daughter Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
"100 Dollar Show & Up", Post, Los Angeles, CA
"$99 Dollar Store Exhibition", Miller Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
"Made in California", City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
"Four Dimensions", Cypress College Art Gallery, Cypress, CA
"Robert M. Hopkins/Deborah Zlotsky", Eastern Oregon U., OR
1997 "2nd National Juried Show, Spanish Kitchen, Los Angeles, CA
"SITE’s 2nd National Competition", SITE Galley, Los Angeles, CA
"Downtown Lives ‘97", DADA Exhibition Space, Los Angeles, CA
"The Big Wave", Andrew Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Arroyo Arts Collective Juried Exhibition", CSULA, Los Angeles, CA
"100 Dollar Show", Post, Los Angeles, CA
"The $99 Store", Miller Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
"Unusual Perceptions", Hello Artichoke Galley, Santa Monica, CA
[Juror: Eleana Del Rio; Award: First Prize]
"Eye SITE 1997 – Brewery Artwalk", SITE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Southern California Juried Exhibition", Laguna Beach Museum, CA
"Made in California", City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA
[Juror: Noel Korten, Award: Honorable Mention]
"The 6th International Shoebox Sculpture Exhibition", Two Year
Traveling Exhibition, The University of Hawaii, Art Gallery
"The Shooting Gallery, 1997", LACE, Hollywood, CA
1996 "Fair Art ’96", Spanish Kitchen Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Old/ New Armatures", Pierce College Gallery, Woodland Hills, CA
"littlebigart", Mendenhall Art Gallery, Whittier College, Whittier, CA
"Downtown Lives ‘96", DADA Exhibition Space, Los Angeles, CA
"31st Annual Open Show", San Bernardino Museum, Redlands, CA
"100 Dollar Show", Post, Los Angeles, CA
“Living With Art", Andrew Shire Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Process and Perception", Full Moon Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Material Witness", Monterey Peninsula College, Monterey, CA
"Action Required", Art Center, Huntington Beach, CA
1995 "act, activate...", Barnsdall Art Park Center, Los Angeles, CA
"Brand XXV: Competition", Brand Library Gallery, Glendale, CA
"Strictly Sculpture", O.C.C. for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
[Juror: Betye Saar, Award: Honorable Mention]
"Three Person Show”, Factory Place Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"1995 LA Juried Exhibition", Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Sculpture", Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
1994 "Get Back", Kohn Turner Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Downtown Lives "94", DADA, Los Angeles, CA
"Get Back", West Gallery, C.G.U., Claremont, CA
"FAR Bazzar At The Brewery", Bingo Building, Los Angeles, CA
1993 "Downtown Lives!", DADA Exhibition space, Los Angeles, CA
"CARECEN’s 9th Auction", Every Pic Tells A Story, Los Angeles, CA
"Sculpture", Studio 5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Urbanned Hearts", Spanish Kitchen Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1992 "F.A.R. Bazzar/Alternative Art Fair", Old Fed Reserve, Los Angeles, CA
"CARECEN 8th Art Auction", Sherry Frumpkin Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"SLASH-A Group Show", Empty Spaces Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1991 "CARECEN 7th Art Auction", Richard Green Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
1990 "CARECEN 6th Art Auction", Daniel Saxon Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
1989 "CARECEN 5th Art Auction", Fred Hoffman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
"4th Annual Group Show", Artist Trait Gallery, Ontario, CA
"3 Person Show", Madrona Gallery, San Pedro, CA
"Paint", Art Gallery, Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
1988 "Part-Time Faculty Show", West Gallery, CSU Fullerton, CA
"Fringe of The Fringe Show II", DA Gallery, Pomona, CA
"Visual Arts '88", Art Institute of SoCal, Laguna Beach, CA
1987 "Visual Arts '87", Art Institute of SoCal, Laguna Beach, CA
1986 "4th Annual Competition", Provincetown Art Association & Museum, MA
"Visual Arts '86", Art Institute of SoCal, Laguna Beach, CA
"Statue of Liberty Centennial", Orlando Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA
"O.C.V.A. 2nd Annual Juried Exhibit", Chapman College, Orange, CA
"Expressions of the Human Figure", Muckenthaler Center, Fullerton, CA
SELECTED TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Conservatory of Visual Arts, [L.A. Unified School District's Gifted/Talented Program, with Saturday morning classes on the campus of C.S.U. Los Angeles, CA]
Instructor in Introduction to Drawing; Pen and Ink; Figure Drawing; Portraiture; Self-Portraiture; Watercolor; Sumi-e Ink Painting; Independent Projects. (Fall 2000 to Spring 2004)
Santa Monica Community College, Dual Enrollment Program, Santa Monica, CA
Instructor in Beginning Watercolor; Beginning Drawing; and Beginning Life Drawing at four different High Schools in Los Angeles County. (Fall 1998 to Spring 2003)
Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA
Teaching Assistant in Graduate Seminar to Roland Reiss (Spring 1990)
California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Instructor in Life Drawing (Fall 1988 and Spring 1989)
SELECTED LECTURE EXPERIENCE
1998 Slide Lecturer on my work for Advanced Painting students,
California State University, Fullerton, CA (February)
Slide Lecturer on my work during "The 6th International Shoebox
Sculpture Exhibition", City of Brea Gallery, Brea, CA (February)
1997 Guest Lecturer in Beginning Photography class, San Bernardino
Valley College, San Bernardino, CA (May)
1996 Gallery Lecturer on my work in the group show "Old Processes, New
Armatures", Pierce College Art Gallery, Woodland Hills, CA
(November)
Slide Lecturer on my work during my solo show "Osmosis",
San Jose City College, San Jose, CA (October)
Slide Lecturer on my work for Painting students, during group
show "Material Witness", Monterey Peninsula College,
Monterey, CA (April)
1995 Gallery Lecturer on my work in group show "act, activate, analyze,
ask…", Barnsdall Art Park, Junior Arts Center Gallery, Los Angeles,
CA (January)
1994 Gallery Lecturer on my solo show "Vestiges and Constructions",
Mendenhall Art Gallery, Whittier College, Whittier, CA (October)
1993 Slide Lecturer on my work for Advanced Painting class, California
State University, Fullerton, CA (November)
1992 Visiting Artist in Architecture Critique class, Woodbury University,
Burbank, CA (November)
1991 Guest Lecturer in Life Drawing class, California State University,
Fullerton, CA (February)
1990 Slide Lecturer on my work to Senior Art Students, Lakewood High
School, Lakewood, CA (November)
1989 Slide Lecturer on my work during the group show, "Paint",
Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, CA (February)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND REVIEWS
1998 - The Korean Central Daily, Los Angeles, May 6, 1998, "Hybrid and
Transplant: Robert M. Hopkins and Jason S. Yi at John N Joe
Gallery", by Yoo Hue Ahn, Culture, p.1.
- The Event Newspaper, Cypress College, Feb. 27, 1998, "Four
Dimensions: Now Open at Cypress College".
- The Observer/Baker City Herald, Oregon, Jan. 30, 1998,
"Art Show Has Lots to Offer", by Linda Elliott.
- The Observer/Baker City Herald, Oregon, Jan. 9, 1998, "Show
Time: Nationally Recognized Artists Coming to Nightingale", p.5.
- Artweek, Jan. 1998, "Previews: Four Dimensions", by Steve
Jenkins, p. 6.
1997 - Catalogue for "Heterosis", Hello Artichoke Gallery, Santa Monica,
California, Dec. 3-31. Essay by M.A. Greenstein.
- Catalogue for "The 6th International Shoebox Sculpture
Exhibition", March 16 - April 18, 1997, The University of Hawaii
Art Gallery, Honolulu, HA, p.57.
1996 - San Jose City College Times, Nov. 7, 1996, "Osmosis: Exhibition
Stretches Definition Of Art", by Jeff Rehrig, p. 6.
- Catalogue for "Action Required", April 13 – May 12, 1996,
Huntington Beach Art Center, Gallery 3, Huntington Beach,
CA, p. 10.
- L.A. Weekly, Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, 1996, "Art Picks of the Week"
by Peter Frank, p.110.
1995 - Catalogue for "act, activate, analyze, ask…", Dec. 3, 1995, Junior
Arts Center Gallery, Barnsdall Art Park, Los Angeles, CA, p. 2.
- O.C. Weekly, Oct. 20-26, 1995, "Strictly Contemporary:
Sculpture as an Artistic Antidote", by Daniella B. Walsh.
1990 - Elan Magazine, Sept. 1990, "Portfolio", p. 24.
HONORS AND AWARDS
1997 -First Prize (Awarded Solo Show in December), "Unusual
Perceptions", Hello Artichoke Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
-Honorable Mention, "Made in California", City of Brea Gallery,
Brea, CA
1995 -Honorable Mention, Strictly Sculpture", The Orange County Center
For Contemporary Art (OCCA), Santa Ana, CA
1990 -Elected to Fellowship Committee, Claremont Graduate University
1989 -Recipient of Merit Fellowship, Claremont Graduate University
