Robert Irwin

Robert Irwin is the first contemporary California artist to gain recognition on a national level due in large part to his unique approach to art in general and to his own work in particular. Irwin is a controversial figure who found art school capable of providing technical instruction but failing to teach its students what art is. On his own in Europe, he spends years on his trek to learn what art is. He pays no heed to established notions about art, discarding the works of da Vinci, Francesca and other masters. At least to his satisfaction, he learns what art is and means.

Irwin undergoes a metamorphosis in his journey of self-discovery to ultimately find his place in the world of art. He is at first intrigued by minimalism and abstract impressionism. However, he soon transcends those disciplines to undertake his own unique path. In his...