Robert's brilliant abstract paintings are easily identified with energized aspects of the universe as in sun burst, nebula, black hole, or far away. His Zen practice allows him release from earthly concerns to soar amongst the stars.
Robert Piatek is a Detroit based artist who maintains a painting studio in the old factory at 333 Midland in Highland Park, MI. His focus is on large abstract paintings with oil on canvass as his primary materials.
Before becoming a painter Robert practiced as an architect and taught art to middle school students. During this time he studied fine art at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, (formerly Center for Creative Studies) faculty and graduates include Richard Jerzy, Harry Bertoia, Doug Chaing (currently director of Lucas Film), Stephen Dinehart (game maker, writer, designer connected with The David Lynch Foundation), Tyree Guyton (international artist), Herb Babcock, Jerome Feretti, Kevin Siembieda (writer, designer and publisher of role-playing games), Renee Radell, Philip Pearlstein, Charles McGee (nationally recognized African American sculptor of animal and dancing spirits), Philip Pearlstein (2000 Honorary Doctorate, Modern Realism style), John Louis Krieger (American Modern), William Girard (American Modern), Charles Culver. Henry Heading, Hughie Lee-Smith and Joseph Wesner.
In 2010 Robert began exhibiting his work and has since participated in over 20 juried shows and exhibitions including the following venues: Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Scarab Club, College for Creative Studies, Hatch Art Gallery, Annex Gallery at 333 Midland, CARR Center, and Farmington Hills Public Art Program 2018 through 2020. He has been featured in a Wayne State University Cable TV interview.
He states that is work has evolved over time from urban landscapes to abstract expression partly in response to my Zen practice, but mostly to open the doors to the unknown, the ethereal nature of all things and how to express that visually.
His process has also evolved from painting real-life subject matter while sitting at my easel with the final result in mind. Now I paint standing up with a large empty canvas on the wall so I can “attack” the work with bursts of big strokes of color applied with various sized drywall knives as my intuition guides me. I work quickly and in layers of paint applied over many days but always with in-the-moment energy, something akin to Chinese Brush Painting.
Robert’s current work is focused on abstract expression that draws from my thoughts, feelings, meditations and musings about life, the universe, other realities, mythical worlds, and other unanswerable questions.
“I often think that what we don’t see or understand is more real than what we do see. So what does that all look like and how can that be visually expressed” That is where abstract expression/exploration comes in.