Robert Berkshire, Life Is Art: The Herron Collection

ROBERT BERKSHIRE LIFE IS ART: THE HERRON COLLECTION

JAMES R. ROSS FINE ART

ROBERT BERKSHIRE LIFE IS ART: THE HERRON COLLECTION

Date Oct. 12 - Nov. 4, 2023 Location Indianapolis, Indiana Gallery James R. Ross Fine Art

A note from the gallery owner: Please join me as we celebrate and honor both Robert Berkshire’s striking work and the deep legacy of the Herron School of Art and Design. Bob left an important collection of his own work to be sold to benefit Herron, and that has led to the exhibition and sale currently underway at this gallery.

Robert Berkshire (1932-2010) was a longtime Herron School of Art painting professor. He was also my freshman year painting professor when I attended Herron in the 1980s. He was supportive of my efforts, and inspiring to me, and I was always a fan of his work. It now pleases me a great deal to be able to complete the circle, from student to Indiana art dealer, and to be able to support both Bob’s work and my alma mater, which has had such a large impact on my life.

Jim Ross

Right Phoenix, 2003 Acrylic on canvas 66 x 93 inches Signed, titled, and dated verso

Untitled Acrylic on canvas 24 x 30 inches

“ALL OF MY PAINTINGS, IN FACT, ARE SELF PORTRAITS REVEALING SOME ASPECT OF MY TOTAL BEING, AND IN ADDITION FOCUS ON SOME FACET OF LIFE OUTSIDE MYSELF.”

ROBERT BERKSHIRE (1932-2010), an Indianapolis native, won a full scholarship to Herron School of Art and graduated in 1954.

Next, a Fulbright Fellowship funded a year long study in Italy.

Berkshire then earned a master’s degree in fine art from Florida State University in 1958. Immediately after that, Berkshire was offered a teaching position back at Herron, where he remained a member of the Herron faculty until his retirement in 1996.

Berkshire, both through his teaching and his artwork, became a legend in the Indianapolis contemporary art world. He taught and influenced hundreds of Herron students, and his legacy will live on through them. In addition, his memory will live on through his estate gift to the capital campaign that produced Herron’s current facility. His gift also supports painting scholarships and the art gallery at Herron.

This exhibition and sale continues that legacy. Funds from the sale of these paintings will benefit Herron moving forward. Enjoy these magnificent works in two ways: through their exciting verve, color, and scale, and also through knowing they will contribute toward the Herron School of Art and Design’s mission of educating future artists.

Untitled (Gray Field) Acrylic on canvas 48 x 48 inches

Rosso E Nero, 1994 Acrylic on canvas 80 x 85 inches Signed and dated lower right

Untitled (Bright Blue Field) Acrylic on canvas 48 x 60 inches

Medusa II, 1990 Acrylic and oil on canvas 78 x 99 1/2 inches Signed and dated lower right

Cage a Go-Go, 1965 Oil on canvas 72 x 49 1/2 inches Signed and dated lower right

Quatro Comp YV Acrylic on canvas 88 x 90 inches Signed lower right

Dusk Figure III, 1980 Acrylic and oil on canvas 81 x 92 inches Signed lower right

P-Town Fair Game, ca. 1966 Oil on canvas 48 x 36 inches Signed and titled verso

Untitled (Yellow Field) Acrylic on canvas 72 x 48 inches

Right Blue Men Tubes, 1994 Acrylic on canvas 83 x 58 inches Signed and dated lower right Untitled (Dark Blue Field) Acrylic on canvas 50 x 38 inches

Flight Into Egypt II, 1994 Acrylic on canvas 83 x 58 inches Signed and dated verso

Bernini’s Column, 1995 Acrylic on canvas 84 x 84 inches Signed and dated lower left

ROBERT BERKSHIRE (1932-2010)

Education 1950-1955 Herron School of Art, B.F.A. (full scholarship) 1955-1956 Fulbright Fellowship, Academia delle Belle Arti, Rome, Italy 1956-1958 Florida State University, M.F.A. Teaching 1958-1996 Professor of Painting and Drawing, Herron School of Art, IUPUI 1970 Chairman of Painting Department, Herron School of Art, IUPUI 1961-1965 Instructor of Painting, Indianapolis Art League

1981 1983 1985 1985 1987 1990

Awards 1967 1984 1986 1988

Outstanding Young Men of America Best Artist in Indianapolis, Indianapolis Monthly Magazine Who’s Who in America Best Male Artist, City Magazine

Selected Exhibitions 1954 Student Art in the United States, Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts 1954 Juried Exhibition, New York City Center Gallery 1962 55th Annual Indiana Artists Exhibition, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Art Association Prize, Oil 1965 Midwest Regional Exhibition of Art Across America 1966 1966 1970 1976

Mid States Art Exhibition, Evansville Museum of Arts and Science 150 Years of Indiana Art, Ball State University Art Gallery Robert Berkshire, One Man Show, Herron Galleries Indiana-Illinois Bicentennial Painting Exhibition, Northern Indiana Arts

66th Annual Indiana Artists Exhibition, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Board of Trustees Grand Prize 68th Annual Indiana Artists Exhibition, Indianapolis Museum of Art, First Prize Master/Apprentice: The Indiana Art Tradition Carries On, Indiana State Museum Body Beautiful: An Exhibit of Contemporary Figure Drawings, Wabash College Robert Berkshire: Painting and Drawing, Notre Dame University Robert Berkshire: A Retrospective, Indiana State Museum

Selected Collections Indianapolis Museum of Art Indiana State Museum National Museum of Sports Evansville Museum of Arts and Science Florida State University

ROBERT BERKSHIRE LIFE IS ART: THE HERRON COLLECTION Exhibition and sale produced by James R. Ross Fine Art, Indianapolis, Indiana

1. Cage a Go-Go, 1965 Oil on canvas, 72 x 49 1/2 inches Signed and dated lower right $6,500 Exhibited: Midwest Regional Exhibition of Art Across America, 1965; Robert Berkshire: A Retrospective, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 7–December 16, 1990; Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, Indiana, March 2–March 25, 1991; Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, Indiana, December 10, 1991–January 12, 1992 2. Untitled (Gray Field) Acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 inches $5,000 3. Untitled (Yellow Field) Oil on canvas, 72 x 48 inches $5,500 4. Untitled (Bright Blue Field) Acrylic on canvas, 48 x 60 inches $5,000 5. Untitled Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 inches $2,800 6. Untitled (Dark Blue Field) Acrylic on canvas, 50 x 38 inches $3,500 7. P-Town Fair Game, ca. 1966 Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches Signed and titled verso $3,500

8. Salome’s Veils, 2003 Acrylic on canvas, 86 x 90 inches $8,500 Exhibited: The Art of Robert Berkshire: Epic Episodes, Woodburn & Westcott Contemporary Fine Art, Indianapolis, Indiana, January 9–February 21, 2004

13. Blue Men Tubes, 1994 Acrylic on canvas, 83 x 58 inches Signed and dated lower right $6,500 Exhibited: Best of Berkshire, Herron School of Art & Design, June 17–July 28, 2011.

9. Medusa II, 1990 Acrylic and oil on canvas, 78 x 99 1/2 inches Signed and dated lower right $8,000 Exhibited: Robert Berkshire: A Retrospective, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 7–December 16, 1990; Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, Indiana, March 2–March 25, 1991; Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, Indiana, December 10, 1991–January 12, 1992; Best of Berkshire, Herron School of Art & Design, June 17–July 28, 2011.

Illustrated: in Indiana State Museum exhibition catalog

14. Flight Into Egypt II, 1994 Acrylic on canvas, 83 x 58 inches Signed and dated verso $6,500

10. Quatro Comp YV Acrylic on canvas, 88 x 90 inches Signed lower right $7,500

15. Dusk Figure III, 1980 Oil and acrylic on canvas, 81 x 92 inches Signed lower right $7,500 Exhibited: Robert Berkshire: A Retrospective, Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 7–December 16, 1990; Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, Indiana, March 2–March 25, 1991; Evansville Museum of Arts and Science, Evansville, Indiana, December 10, 1991–January 12, 1992 Illustrated: in above catalog

11. Bernini’s Column, 1995 Acrylic on canvas, 84 x 84 inches Signed and dated lower left $7,500

16. Phoenix, 2003 Oil on canvas, 66 x 93 inches Signed, titled, and dated verso $7,500

12. Rosso E Nero, 1994 Acrylic on canvas, 80 x 85 inches Signed and dated lower right $7,500

JAMES R. ROSS FINE ART 5627 N. ILLINOIS STREET INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46208 317-255-4561 website

jamesrrossfineart.com social media instagram : jamesrrossfineart

Salome’s Veils, 2003 Acrylic on canvas 86 x 90 inches