Nelson, Robert A

Robert A. Nelson, 'Robert Nelson', ‘Robert Allen Nelson’. (Indianapolis, born, 1925):

A highly respected contemporary painter, sculptor printmaker and collage artist. Robert Nelson studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (B.F.A., 1950, M.F.A., 1951). He then taught at the Art Institute of Chicago as well as the University of Manitoba, Canada, and at the University of North Dakota. He furthered his education at New York University in 1971, receiving his Education Doctorate. The following year, Robert Nelson began teaching at Cleveland State University, where he remained until in 1975. Nelson then joined the faculty of the University of North Carolina and later that of Millersville University. In 1997 Millersville University granted him the rank of professor emeritus. Robert A. Nelson currently lives and works in Lakeside, Oregon.

 

Nelson's art is included in the permanent collections of many major museums, such as the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, the University of Texas, the Seattle Art Museum, Ohio University, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, DeCordova Museum, Boston, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Museum of Modern Art owns three of his lithographs and two of his collages. Nelson's work has been the subject of over one hundred and fifty one man shows in Philadelphia, Washington and elsewhere. His art has been included in prime contemporary exhibitions in Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Chicago. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Purchase Prize in the 31st National Exhibition of Boston Printmakers and was awarded the Cezanne medal from the government of France, in 1961.

Honors

Bryant/Lathrop Traveling Fellowship, School of the Art Institute Chicago (1951)

Cezanne Medal, French government (1961)

Danforth Teacher’s Grant for doctoral work at NYU (1963)

Tamarind Lithographic Fellow (1964)

Lancaster Arts Council Award to explore neon and sculpture

Millersville University Faculty Grant for sculpture

Over 60 major workshops and artist-in-residence

Over 150 one-man shows

Hundreds of awards and purchase prizes from juried exhibitions

 

Education

1971    Ed. D., New York University, New York, NY

1951    M.A.E. School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

1950    B.A.E., School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Professional Experience

1979                Millersville University, Millersville, PA

1984-91           Pennsylvania School of Art and Design, adjunct faculty

1975-79           University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC

1972-75           Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH

1956-72           University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND  

1953-56           University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba,

1952-53           School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL