Robert Biancalana

Robert Biancalana (1924-2007) was born in Fair Oaks, CA, attended Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, married for over 60 years and the father of two sons. During his 30 year career as an art director for major advertising firms Robert also devoted himself to long distance running - winning the Double Dipsea in 1975.

This exhibition spans the course of Robert's 45 year artistic career, beginning with his intarsias Ð mosaics made from pieces of wood, many of which he found while jogging. Robert was drawn to the remnants, each of which reflected its own personal character and bore the scars of use. His work later evolved into two dimensional wood sculptures and plant constructions, before he turned to photo-realistic painting. Robert took his camera with him everywhere, taking pictures of everyday objects, from hats, ties and tennis balls, to flea market chairs. Later the subject of his photos would become the subject of his paintings. "I thought of a word that describes my work", Robert Biancalana once said, "Artifacts. I love the artifacts of our culture."

Robert Biancalana's art works and paintings will be on exhibit at the Museo Italo Americano from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, October 24, 2010.