Bob Lockhart, One of Kentucky's Most Influential Artists, Commences Residency at Rockport Center for the Arts

MEDIA, PLEASE CONTACT:  

John Speck (361) 729-5519 

or Luis Purón (570) 702-4032 

ROCKPORT, TEXAS. A career artist and educator, Bob Lockhart brings his wealth of creativity to the Rockport Center for the Arts as the 2015 Artist-in-Residence. Originally from Oak Park, Illinois, Lockhart graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Chicago. He apprenticed with Egon Weiner, and studied under Ray Yoshida, Dan Seiden, and Whitney Halstead. A professor of Anthropology, Halstead exposed Lockhart to the magic of non-western art, pushing him beyond traditional themes.

Lockhart can best be described as a creative polymath. His technical ability is quite broad, deftly handling a multitude of mediums in both two and three-dimensions. Lockhart demonstrates tremendous skill using ink, graphite, oil, and pastel. Sculpturally, he manipulates tangible substances such as alabaster, clay, bronze, marble, and wood.

Descriptions of Lockhart's work range from reverent to elusive, sometimes absurd, and humorous. Over the course of his prolific career, he has developed a deeply complex visual language.  In a recent exhibition catalog, “The Sardonic Eye: Bob Lockhart in Context,” author and curator Peter Morrin of the University of Louisville Hite Art Institute developed a “Lockhart Glossary” to hint at the ethos that drives the serendipitous flow of the artist's creative thought. Symbols, imaginary beasts, religious iconography are regular, powerful motifs in his work. Simply put, Bob Lockhart is radical. “Lockhart defines himself by negation as one who stands in opposition to the establishment and its blandishments, a fellow with something to say and a seer in every sense of the word,” Morrin wrote.

Lockhart's work can be found at the Indianapolis Art Museum, the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Owensboro Museum of Art, The University of Kentucky Art Museum, the Indianapolis Children'sMuseum, and other public and private collections throughout North and South America. Some of his collected works are the result of commissions and can be seen at the Louisville Zoo, the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital, and the Southwest Branch of the Louisville Free Public Library. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year at Bellarmine University (1989, 2000, 2004), and the Wilson Wyatt Award for Academic Excellence(1983).

Officially retiring in 2010, Lockhart had been a professor at Bellarmine University in Kentucky for 45 years. He now serves the institution as Professor Emeritus. His legacy and influence as an educator is enormous– and it continues. Lockhart likes to “engage and inspire students to view themselves as not just artists, but as change agents – informed citizens whose presence, thoughts and works can change the world.”

In conjunction with his residency, Lockhart is offering free workshops to active members of the Art Center. Participants can register by visiting or calling the Art Center at 361-729-5519. His course offerings at the Art Center areas follows:

Drawing Workshop:  “Drawing – My Incredible, Personal, and 'Funtastic' Approach!”

3-Day Workshop, October 19, 20 & 23from 10 AM – 4 PM

FREE offering for members only, seatsavailable on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pre-registration is required. Supplylist available.

Handbuilding Workshop:  “The Art of Making Great Personal Stuff in Clay.”

5-Day Workshop, October 13, 14, 15, 21& 22 from 10 AM – 4PM

FREE offering for members only, seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pre-registration is required. Supply list available.

High school students enrolled at Aransas County Independent School District will also benefit from his on-site workshops, to be conducted during the tenure of his residency.

Lockhart’s exhibition will officially open with a transformative gallery talk on October 17th, at 4:30 PM.  A reception will directly follow from 5 to 7 PM. His residency will continue through November 21st. The Artist-in-Residence program is made possible through a generous individual contribution. The program exists to invite artists for time and space away from their usual environment and obligations. It aims to provide a time of reflection, research, presentation, production and a cultural benefit to the communities of Rockport-Fulton. Prior artists-in-residence were Diane Pike (2014) and Ewoud de Groot (2012).

Admission to the Art Center is always free and open to the public.

About Rockport Center for the Arts

A non-profit organization in its 46th year of operation, Rockport Center for the Arts is dedicated to providing an environment that nurtures the expressing and appreciation of art for residents and tourists alike. For more information, call (361) 729-5519, or visit www.rockportartcenter.com. The City of Rockport, famous for its vast colony of more than 800 artists has been identified as one of “The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America,” by John Villani, and listed as one of the “Top 10 Art Colonies” by Allen Bunting in Coastal Living.