CONTEMPORARY PAINTINGS
Robert LONGO (American, 1953-)
Title: "Maroon Cross on White"
Portfolio: Cross Paintings
*Signed LR
Year: 1991
Medium: Original Oil over Acrylic Painting
on Herald Tribune Newspaper
Framed size: 27" x 34"
Sheet size: 22.75" x 29.75"
Price: SOLD
Robert Longo (born January 7, 1953) is an American painter and sculptor. Longo became a rising star in the 1980s for his
"Men in the Cities" series, which depicted sharply dressed men and women writhing in contorted emotion.
Robert Longo was born in 1953 in Brooklyn, New York and raised in Long Island. He had a childhood fascination with mass
media: movies, television, magazines, and comic books, which continue to influence his art.
Longo began college at the University of North Texas, in the town of Denton, but left before getting a degree. He later studied
sculpture under Leonda Finke, who encouraged him to pursue a career in the visual arts. In 1972, Longo received a grant to
study at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. Upon his return to New York, Longo enrolled at Buffalo State College,
where he received a BFA in 1975. While at Buffalo State, he studied under, and was likely influenced by art professor Joseph
Piccillo. At this time he was associated with artist Cindy Sherman, who was also studying art at Buffalo State.
While in college, Longo and his friends established an avant garde art gallery in their co-op building, the Essex Art Center,
which was originally a converted ice factory; the gallery became Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center. Through his gallery
efforts, Longo met many local and New York City artists. Longo eventually moved to New York City to join the underground
art scene of the 1970s.
FINE ART INVESTMENTS SINCE 1978