Robert J. Carter at an exhibition of his work at Mole Gallery. (click images to enlarge) — Robert J. Carter at an exhibition of his work at Mole Gallery.
*(click images to enlarge)*

ROBERT J. CARTER
Multi-Media Self-Expression

A fifteen-year resident of the West End’s iconic Mole Hill community, Robert J. Carter’s mixed-media work has been shown at a couple of exhibitions at the Mole Gallery in the years before COVID put a stop to their monthly exhibitions.

A 1987 Graduate of Fine Arts from Emily Carr College of Art in Vancouver, Robert has always expressed himself artistically. His interest began at an early age, starting in public school and then leading him to Central Technical School of Art in Toronto where he engaged in a five-year program learning various painting techniques as well as sculpture and ceramics.

He moved to Vancouver in 1979 to pursue a career in advertising and soon became disillusioned with the commercial art field. He decided that he needed to expand on his fine art background and enrolled at Emily Carr University.

“Aunt Mary” is a blue faced vase in silver glaze, named in tribute to a favourite aunt.

Robert is an artist who thinks in color and movement and draws inspiration from the variety of things he interacts with in everyday life. He enjoys expressing them with dream-like images filled with color. His expressions come alive in the various media he engages in his work, whether it be painting (oil, acrylic, watercolor), ceramics, sculpture or video. His unique perspective on showcasing his work allows the viewer to create their own point of view for what they see and enjoy in his work in their own way.

Among his influences have been his studies in African art, exploring his own roots from his mixed Irish - Caribbean background, and the European school of so-called “primitive art” that included Picasso and Gauguin.

“I am always exploring my subconscious by flowing freely between the objective and non-objective to abstract/expressionism,” Robert says. While he continues to explore other media, painting and sculpture remain important components of his self-expression.

Robert has “never been into the gallery scene” and much of his work has been for private commissions and exhibitions in more intimate venues, such as Mole Gallery. It wasn’t until 2000 that he had his first public exhibition, at a Gastown salon where he worked as a hairstylist and was encouraged to showcase his art by another well-known West End resident and salon stylist and lifestyle blogger Velvet Steele.

Like everyone else, Robert is looking forward to the eventual reopening of venues like Mole Gallery, and we all hope to see more of his work there and elsewhere soon.

(click on the images below to see full size)