Robert Murray (artist)

Robert Gray Murray (born March 2, 1936) is a Canadian sculptor, printmaker, painter, and art teacher whose large outdoor works resemble abstract stabile style of Alexander Calder. Some of his installations have attracted controversy because of their abstract design.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he has lived in the United States since 1960. He attended the Regina College School of Art. Upon moving to New York City, he was influenced by Barnett Newman and David Smith. Murray's works often call natural themes to mind through shape, color, and of course name; other works are named after people, places, or things in Canada and Alaska. The sculptures are primarily made of painted metal in twisting, geometric forms.

Work in Collections

United States

Alaska

• Nimbus, 1978, Alaska State Museum, Juneau,

California

• Chinook, 1968, Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley
• Duet (Homage to David Smith), 1965, CSULB campus, Long Beach

District of Columbia

• Marker, 1964, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington

Georgia

• Montauk, 1967, Adams Park Library, Atlanta,

Illinois

• Untitled, 1976, Roy Boyd Gallery, Chicago
• Windhover, 1970, Hinsdale Junior High School, Hinsdale

Massachusetts

• Quinnipiac, 1974, Fine Arts Center, UMass, Amherst

Michigan

• Nordkyn, 1973-4, Ferry Mall, Wayne State University, Detroit
• Windhover, 1976, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids

Minnesota

• Taku, 1976, Honeywell Plaza, Minneapolis
• Maquette for Track, 1966, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
• Track, 1966, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

Nebraska

• Nanticoke, 1980, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden, Lincoln

New Jersey

• Hillary, 1983, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton

New York

• Megan's Red, SUNY, Fredonia
• Kiana, 1978, Storm King, Mountainville
• Spinnaker, 1979, JPMorgan Chase Art Collection, New York
• Siwash, Vassar Art Gallery, Vassar College, Poukeepsie

Ohio

• Wasahaban/Claire, 1978, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus

Texas

• Chilkat, 1977, PCL Lobby, Univ of Texas, Austin

Wisconsin

• Windfall, 1966, Lynden Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee

International

Canada

Alberta

• Dyad, 1967, University of Alberta, Edmonton

British Columbia

• Skagway, 1977, Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna
• Cumbria, 1966, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
• Kennebec, 1978, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria
• Oneida, 1978, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria
• Hillary, 1983, serigraph, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria
• Lennon Yellow, 1980, The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria

Ontario

• The Henney Banners, 1985, Trent University, Champlain College: Great Hall, Peterborough
• Ferus, 2001, Pointe au Baril
• Kawaatebiishing, 2003, Pointe au Baril
• Pointe au Baril II, 2003, Pointe au Baril
• Gap, 1973, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Huron, 1974, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Juneau, 1976, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Prairie, 1965–66, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Roll, 1973, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Sitka, 1976, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Split, 1973, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Togiak, 1974, Art Bank/Canada Council Collection, Ottawa
• Tundra (for Barnett Newman), 1972-3, Carleton University, Ottawa
• Haida, 1973, Dept. of External Affairs, Ottawa
• Adam and Eve, 1962-3, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Arroyo, 1968, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Breaker, 1968, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Burwash, 1970, ed. of 17, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Caldwell, 1973, lithograph, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Chilcotin, 1969, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Ferus, 1963, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• The Trent Series no. 1-9, 1991, The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Working Model for "Fountain Sculpture" 1959, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa
• Lillooet, 2007, Snug Harbor
• Mbishkaad/To Ascend, 2004, One King West, Toronto
• Becca's H, 1973, University of Toronto, Toronto

Saskatchewan

• Rainmaker, 1959–60, Saskatoon City Hall, Saskatoon
• Study for Saskatoon, 1976, Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon

Not Located

• Lazarus (1961-2)
• To (1963)
• Chief (1964)
• Mesa (1967)
• Bank (1968)
• Teal (1969)
• Swing (1973)
• Agulapak (1974)
• Garnet (1974)
• Magnetawan (1974)
• Tikchik (1974)
• Kodiak (1975)
• Seward (1976)
• Willow (1976)
• Alagash, 1978
• Saginaw (1979)
• Chesapeake (1980)
• Spinnaker (1980)
• Susquehana (1980)
• Bethany (1981)
• Saguenay, (1982)
• Pointe au Baril IX, (2003)
• No Exit, (2004)
• Ferus (model B), (2008)

External links

• "The Sculpture of Robert Murray" by Neil Marshall
• Robert Murray at The Canadian Encyclopedia
• The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert Murray (artist).