Robert Munford Catalogue Raisonne
About
The catalogue raisonné project began in 2011 to document the works of the American artist Robert Watson Munford (1925-1991). Munford, a noted painter, printmaker, and educator, co-founded the Spanish art group Grupo Ibiza 59. Critics have compared his art of the 1950s and 1960s to the Pop precursor works of Larry Rivers, R.J. Kitaj, and Peter Saul.
Planned is a two-volume scholarly catalogue. Portions of the catalogue will be made available through this website. This project has been made possible through the support of the Estate of Robert W. Munford.
Munford Archive
The Robert Munford Archive was established in 2016 to serve as the gallery, studio, and archive of the Estate of Robert Munford. Formerly the Atelier Laforest, the RMA hosts a yearly series of exhibitions which feature works by Munford or international artists.
Exhibitions
The Robert Munford Archive will feature the first North American exhibition of the works of the Grupo Ibiza 59 from August 13, 2022 to September 30, 2022. Featured artists: Katja Mierowsky, Robert Munford, Carlos Sansegundo, Bertil Sjoberg, Heinz Trokes, and Bob Thompson.
The island of Ibiza (Spain) became a haven for international artists between the 1950s and 1970s. A number of artists formed the Grupo Ibiza in 1959 to exhibit together, placing Ibiza in the eye of the global art world. The exhibition Beautiful Ghosts pays homage to these legendary artists.
Contact
Robert Munford Archive
c/o 45 Main Street
Dennysville, Maine USA
04268
123-456-7890
Timeline
1925
Born on June 22, 1925 (Worcester, Masschusetts, USA) to Walter F. and Camille Watson Munford.
1941
Studied at Worcester Academy (Worcester, MA), Class of 1944, 1941-1943.
1944
Joined U.S. Army Air Force, 1944-1945.
1945
Earned high school diploma from the Cleveland Board of Education.
1946
Studied sculpture and drawing at the Ohio State University, 1946-1947.
1947
Studied sculpture, painting, drawing and graphics at University de Bellas Artes, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
Attended the Cleveland Institute of Art.
1949
Studied painting and drawing at Art Student’s League, New York, NY, 1949-1951.
1951
Worked as a freelance illustrator (Fortune Magazine, Esquire, Steelways,Report Magazine, Harper’s Magazine), 1951-1955.
Worked as a layout & design artist for Hearst Advertising Services, New York, 1951-1953.
1952
Attended the Workshop School of Art, New York, studying layout, typography, design, and drawing.
Taught at Pan American Art School, painting, life drawing and design, 1952-1953.
1953
Worked as a layout & design artist for Dick Chenault Art Studio, New York, 1953-1954.
1956
Moved to Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain.
1957
Lectured at Beaux Arts de Paris on abstract expressionism in relation to landscape.
Moved to Ibiza and set up studio in Santa Eularia, 1957-1966.
1958
Brought an intaglio printing press to Ibiza and started a graphic workshop in studio; made prints in studio with artists Erwin Bechtold, Juan Genoves, and Eric Rutherford.
1959
Co-founded the artist group "Grupo Ibiza 59" with Erwin Bechtold, Hans Laab, Katja Meirowsky, Erwin Broner, Heinz Trökes, Bertil Sjöberg, Erwin Broner, Egon Neubauer, and Antonio Ruiz.
1960
Set up a studio on the isle de St. Louis, Paris, France.
Visited London, UK and met Lawrence Alloway, Assistant Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), and artists Roland Penrose, Al Copley, and Victor Pasmore.
1961
Worked at the Lithograph Workshop in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Taught lithography at the Schlöss, Wolfsburg, 1961 & 1964.
1966
Returned to New York City.
1967
Worked at the Mortland Atelier/Bank Street Atelier, New York; made own artwork for lithographs for Touchstone Publications, 1967-1970.
1969
Taught life drawing, painting, and design at University of South Florida; also appointed Artist-in-Residence (1970), 1969-1970.
Designed "Circus" silkscreen suite for Great American Editions of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia.
Designed stage sets for Gothic Theater, Michael Abrams, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Elliot Feld American Ballet Co., New York City Center, and Robert Joffrey Ballet.
1971
Joined the art faculty of the Long Island University, Southampton, New York, 1971-1991.
1991
Died on May 28, 1991 in Water Mill, New York.
Collections
Museums and galleries containing works by Robert Munford:
Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington, DC)
Guild Hall Museum (East Hampton, NY)
Lugwiggalerie Schloss Oberhausen (Oberhausen, Germany)
Museum of Modern Art (New York)
National Art Museum of Sport (New York)
New York Public Library (New York)
Parrish Art Museum (Southampton, NY)
Provincetown Museum and Artists Association (Provincetown, MA)
Staedtische Galerie Wolfsburg (Wolfsburg, Germany)
Sunrise Museum (Charleston, WV)
Westmoreland Museum (Greensburg, PA)