Robert Dowd Original Vintage LA California American Pop Art Oil Painting Contemporary Modern Americana Auto Art Painting Buick Super Eight

Original vintage oil painting of a 1969 Buick, by American Pop Art artist, Robert Dowd.

Robert Dowd: A Biography

Early Life and Education

Robert Dowd, also known as Robert O'Dowd, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1936. After his discharge from the U.S. Marines in 1957, he pursued painting at the Society of Arts and Crafts/Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. During this time, he began drawing common objects, including 'Stop' signs. His early work gained recognition through an Art in America article on the "Young Artists Group" in Detroit.

Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame

In 1960, Dowd moved to San Francisco and began creating his first images of postage stamps. By 1961, he had relocated to Los Angeles, where he started his notable currency paintings. His groundbreaking work on common objects drew significant attention, leading to his inclusion in the historic 1962 "New Painting of Common Objects" exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum. Curated by Walter Hopps, this show is considered the first "Pop Art" exhibition in America, featuring other prominent artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Edward Ruscha.

1960s: Pop Art and Controversy

The 1960s were a tumultuous time for Dowd, marked by social unrest and personal challenges. His fascination with painting currency caught the attention of the Secret Service, which viewed his work as counterfeiting. Despite these challenges, he continued to paint and exhibit in Los Angeles, exploring a wide range of subjects, including cityscapes, marine scenes, and still lifes. Dowd also created a series of Circus paintings and produced miniature art objects that led to the refrigerator magnet craze.

1970s and 1980s: New York and Beyond

In 1970, Dowd moved to SoHo, New York, where he continued to develop his art. He worked on his "Through the Object Barrier" series and completed various commissions, including murals for banks and corporations. Dowd remained active in the New York art scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s, contributing to projects like Reward News, a national newspaper offering rewards for information on missing persons.

Final Years and Legacy

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw a renewed interest in Pop Art and Dowd's contributions to the movement. His work was featured in several significant exhibitions, including "LA Pop of the Sixties" at the Newport Harbor Art Museum and "The Realm of the Coin: Money in Contemporary Art" by the Smithsonian. Dowd's enthusiasm for art persisted, and in 1994 he began a new series of paintings titled "New Money." Unfortunately, his declining health due to kidney failure cut his efforts short. Without health insurance and unable to afford the necessary medical care, Dowd passed away in a hospice home in Los Angeles in 1996.

Throughout his life, Robert Dowd remained dedicated to his art and his country, embodying the Marine motto "Semper fidelis" ("Always Faithful"). His innovative work and contributions to Pop Art continue to be celebrated and remembered.

Selected Exhibitions

• Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
• Pasadena Art Museum, Pasadena, CA
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
• Oakland Art Museum, Oakland, CA
• Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA
• Newport Harbor Art Museum, Newport Harbor, CA
• Fullerton Art Museum, Fullerton, CA
• Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
• Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
• Phoenix Museum of Art, Phoenix, AZ
• Laguna-Gloria Art Museum, Austin, TX
• Museum of Art, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Isaac Delgado Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
• The Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, WA
• Delaware Art Museum, Delaware
• The Art Gallery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
• The Sangre de Cristo Gallery, Pueblo, CO
• Neuberger Museum, Purchase, NY
• Hofstra Museum, Hempstead, NY
• Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows, NY
• White Art Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
• Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Malibu, CA (2009)

Online Ref: Ref: http://www.robertbermangalleryarchive.com/robertbermangallery/exhibitions/lostandfound/robertdowd.jpg

Robert Dowd
(1936–1996)
American, Pop Art
Oil painting on flat wood board panel
Painting measures approximately 18"X24"
Super Eight Buick, Vegas Plates
Estimated to have been created late 1960's. (approx 1969)
Signed "DR", lower right
Painting is in very good condition.

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