Robert Gray Murray (born March 2, 1936) is considered by some to be Canada's foremost abstract

sculptor Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...

. He also has been called the most important sculptor of his generation worldwide. His large outdoor works are said to resemble the abstract ''stabile'' style of

Alexander Calder Alexander Calder (; July 22, 1898 – November 11, 1976) was an American sculptor known both for his innovative mobiles (kinetic sculptures powered by motors or air currents) that embrace chance in their aesthetic, his static "stabiles", and his ...

, that is, the self-supporting, static, abstract sculptures, dubbed "stabiles" by

Jean Arp Hans Peter Wilhelm Arp (16 September 1886 – 7 June 1966), better known as Jean Arp in English, was a German-French sculptor, painter, and poet. He was known as a Dadaist and an abstract artist. Early life Arp was born in Straßburg (now Stras ...

in 1932 to differentiate them from Calder's mobiles. Murray focused on "trying to get sculpture back to its essential form", he has said. His work is like colour-field abstraction.

Biography

Born in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

, and raised in

Saskatoon Saskatoon () is the largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It straddles a bend in the South Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province. It is located along the Trans-Canada Hig ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

, he has lived in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

since 1960. He began his career as a painter, studying at the Regina College School of Art (1956-1956). In 1957 he worked at the city planning office in Saskatoon and it commissioned a fountain sculpture from him: it was his first sculpture. He went to study at the Allende Institute, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (1958-1959), then worked at Saskatoon Technical Collegiate before attending an Emma Lake Artist's Workshop in 1959 with

Barnett Newman Barnett Newman (January 29, 1905 – July 4, 1970) was an American artist. He has been critically regarded as one of the major figures of abstract expressionism, and one of the foremost color field painters. His paintings explore the sense o ...

with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. Newman looked at his paintings and asked "Have you ever thought of sculpture?" He moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

in 1960 on a

Canada Council The Canada Council for the Arts (french: Conseil des arts du Canada), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It acts as the federal government's principal i ...

grant, and although he had never studied sculpture in the formal sense, began to produce modernist, elegant, brightly colored welded-metal constructions. Murray's works often recall natural themes through shape, color, and of course, name; other works are named after people, places, or things in North America though of course, as Murray said:

"With abstract art the piece is itself and what happens within the piece is the subject of the piece".

Murray's earliest sheet-metal sculptures were large-scale upright columnar configurations that were made by cutting and bending steel plates to form angles and corners. They were coloured with industrial finishes and created with the aid of fabricators. In 1974, Murray's sculptures became more freely formed than before, with more crenellated surfaces. Murray had a new concern with highly fluid curves that combined complexity of form with subtler colour. His ambition was to incorporate colour as a part of the metal. Murray usually works to an architectural scale in his sculptures; they have no content but form. They can be viewed as belonging to a past aesthetic - Modernism - and lacking in contemporary relevance. But a reviewer of a recent show, ''Models, Paintings and Sculpture'', much of it completed in the last three years, at Studio 21 Fine Art, Halifax, wrote that, when well executed, a Modernist like Murray can still make objects that achieve a "clarity and sureness that is somehow comforting".

Work in Collections

United States

Alaska *''Nimbus'', 1978, Alaska State Museum, Juneau California *''Chinook'', 1968,

Berkeley Art Museum The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA, formerly abbreviated as BAM/PFA) are a combined art museum, repertory movie theater, and archive associated with the University of California, Berkeley. Lawrence Rinder was Director from ...

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public land-grant research university system in the U.S. state of California. The system is composed of the campuses at Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, ...

, Berkeley * Delaware *''Sioux'', 1984, Delaware Art Museums, Wilmington District of Columbia *''Marker'', 1964-1965,

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is an art museum beside the National Mall, in Washington, D.C., the United States. The museum was initially endowed during the 1960s with the permanent art collection of Joseph H. Hirshhorn. It was des ...

, Washington Georgia *''Montauk'', 1967, Adams Park Library, Atlanta, Illinois *''Windhover'', 1970, Hinsdale Junior High School, Hinsdale Maine *''Pointe-au-baril III'', 1995, collection of Cynthia Stroud, Brooklin Massachusetts *''Quinnipiac'', 1974, University Gallery,

University of Massachusetts The University of Massachusetts is the five-campus public university system and the only public research system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The university system includes five campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth, Lowell, and a medica ...

, Amherst and ''Drawing after Quinnipiac, Seven Views'', 1975, University Gallery,

, Amherst Michigan *''Nordkyn'', 1973-4, Ferry Mall,

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 ...

, Detroit *''Windhover'', 1976, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Minnesota *''Taku'', 1976, Honeywell Plaza, Minneapolis *''Track'', 1965,

Walker Art Center The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is one of the most-visited modern and contemporary art museums in the United States and, t ...

, Minneapolis Nebraska *''Nanticoke'', 1980, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Lincoln New Jersey *''Hillary'', 1983, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton *''Agulapak'', 1974, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton New York *''Chilkat'', 1977,

Metropolitan Museum The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...

, New York *''Megan's Red'', SUNY, Fredonia *''Kiana'', 1978, Storm King, Mountainville *''Spinnaker'', 1979, JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, New York *''Siwash'', Vassar Art Gallery, Vassar College, Poukeepsie *''Shawanagan''. 1968,

Everson Museum of Art Everson may refer to: People with the surname * Ben Everson (born 1987), English footballer * Bill Everson (1906–1966), Welsh international rugby union player * Cliff Everson, a New Zealand car designer and manufacturer * Corinna Everson (born ...

, Syracuse, New York *''Spring'', 1965,

Whitney Museum of American Art The Whitney Museum of American Art, known informally as "The Whitney", is an art museum in the Meatpacking District and West Village neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942), ...

, New York Ohio *'' Wasahaban/Claire'', 1978,

Columbus Museum of Art The Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) is an art museum in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (its name until 1978), it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio. The museum collect ...

, Columbus Pennsylvania *''Saginaw'', 1979, collection of the artist, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Mandan'', 1985, collection of the artist, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Palestina'', 1985, collection of the artist, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Pattern'', 1993-1996, collection of the artist, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Pointe-au-baril II'', 1995, collection of the artist, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Bethany'', 1981, collection of W. Dixon Stroud, West Grove, Pennsylvania *''Lillooet'', 1985, collection of W. B. Dixon Stroud, West Grove, Pennsylvania Wisconsin *''Windfall'', 1966,

Lynden Sculpture Garden Lynden Sculpture Garden (formerly the Bradley Sculpture Garden) is a 40-acre outdoor sculpture park located at 2145 West Brown Deer Road in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in Milwaukee County. Formerly the estate of Harry Lynde Bradley and Margaret (Peg ) Bla ...

, Milwaukee

International

Canada

Alberta *''Dyad'', 1967,

University of Alberta The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexander Cameron Rutherfor ...

, Edmonton British Columbia *''Skagway'', 1977, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna *''Cumbria'', 1966,

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...

, Vancouver *''La Guardia'', 1968

Vancouver Art Gallery The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) is an art museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The museum occupies a adjacent to Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, making it the largest art museum in Western Canada by building size. Designed by Franc ...

, Vancouver *''Ceres'', 1962 , J. A. and Mary Pyrch Collection, Victoria *''Juneau'', 1977,

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV) is an art museum located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Situated in Rockland, Victoria, the museum occupies a building complex; made up of the Spencer Mansion, and the Exhibition Galleries. The ...

, Victoria *''Kennebec'', 1978,

, Victoria *''Oneida'', 1978, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria *''Hillary'', 1983, serigraph, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria *''Lennon Yellow'', 1980, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria Ontario *''TO'', 1963,

Art Gallery of Ontario The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO; french: Musée des beaux-arts de l'Ontario) is an art museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The museum is located in the Grange Park neighbourhood of downtown Toronto, on Dundas Street West between McCaul and Beve ...

, Toronto *''Swing'', 1974, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto *'' Ferus'', 2001, Pointe au Baril *''Kawaatebiishing'', 2003, Pointe au Baril *''Pointe au Baril II'', 2003, Pointe au Baril *''Gap'', 1973,

Art Bank, Ottawa *''Huron'', 1974, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Juneau'', 1976, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Prairie'', 1965–66, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Roll'', 1973, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Sitka'', 1976, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Split'', 1973, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Togiak'', 1974, Canada Council Art Bank, Ottawa *''Tundra (for Barnett Newman)'', 1972-3,

Carleton University Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to serve returning World ...

, Ottawa *''Haida'', 1973, Dept. of External Affairs, Ottawa *''Adam and Eve'', 1962-3,

National Gallery of Canada The National Gallery of Canada (french: Musée des beaux-arts du Canada), located in the capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada's national art museum. The museum's building takes up , with of space used for exhibiting art. It is one of the l ...

, Ottawa *''Arroyo'', 1968, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Breaker'', 1965, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Burwash'', 1970, ed. of 17, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Caldwell'', 1973, lithograph, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Chilcotin'', 1969, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Untitled'', 1969, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Working Model for "Fountain Sculpture"'' 1959, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa and ''Drawing for Fountain Sculpture'', National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Trent Series I-10'', 1981, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa *''Lillooet'', 2007, Snug Harbor *''Mbishkaad]/To Ascend'', 2004, One King West, Toronto *''Becca's H'', 1973,

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

, Toronto *''Cascade'', 1983, University College art collection,

, Toronto *''Charybdis'', 1962, Paul and Dinah Arthur, Toronto *''Ferus'', 1963, Paul and Dinah Arthur, Toronto *''Lazarus'' 1961-2, Estate of Marie Fleming, Toronto *''Mesa'' (1967) Mr. and Mrs. David Mirvish, Toronto *''Arthabaska'', 1966-1967,

Gallery Stratford Gallery Stratford is a public art gallery located in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1967, the Gallery has established itself as one of the region’s leading art galleries, organizing Solo show (art exhibition), exhibitions of local, nationa ...

, Stratford, Ontario New Brunswick *''Nunc Dimittis'',

New Brunswick Museum The New Brunswick Museum, located in Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada's oldest continuing museum. The New Brunswick Museum was incorporated as the "Provincial Museum" in 1929 and received its current name in 1930, but its history goes back muc ...

, St. John Saskatchewan *''Rainmaker'', 1959–60, Saskatoon City Hall, Saskatoon *''Study for Saskatoon'', 1976,

Mendel Art Gallery The Mendel Art Gallery was a major creative cultural centre in City Park, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Operating from 1964 to 2015, it housed a permanent collection of more than 7,500 works of art. The gallery was managed by the city-owned Saskatoon G ...

, Saskatoon

Not Located

*''Chief'' (1964) *''Bank'' (1968) *''Teal'' (1969) *''Garnet'' (1974) *''Magnetawan'' (1974) *''Tikchik'' (1974) *''Kodiak'' (1975) *''Seward'' (1976) *''Willow'' (1976) *''Alagash'', 1978 *''Chesapeake'' (1980) *''Spinnaker'' (1980) *''Susquehana'' (1980) *''Pointe au Baril IX'' (2003) *''No Exit'' (2004) *''Ferus (model B)'' (2008)

References

Bibliography

* * * * * *

External links

Robert Murray: Sculpture
at the

, Ottawa, Ontario {{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Robert 1936 births Living people Artists from Vancouver Canadian male sculptors 20th-century Canadian sculptors Canadian abstract artists 20th-century Canadian male artists