We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robin Roi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robin below.
Robin, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
To begin with, I’ve always wanted to be an artist. In first grade my drawing of a rabbit family (no kidding) was chosen to go on the front door of our classroom. That sealed the deal….this is what I was good at, this is what I received attention for…this is what I would do! I know this sounds kind of silly but I do believe it is such early events that often send us on a path.
Later of course, my passion for making art continued to develop particularly in high school where again, it seemed this was an area that I received much positive attention. So, I would say, the “inner” passion was directed by the “outer” influences.
I think that much of my early career in the 70’s and 80’s was boosted by the accolades I received.. Because of the attention, I often doubted whether I could sustain the passion for my career without the public’s eye.
Now, in my 70’s, my career has had many ups and downs, has waxed and waned, had wonderful attention and at times, been invisible. However, quite some years ago, I had the life saving revelation that I was absolutely meant to make art no matter who looked or did not look at it. I knew that I would continue to make art if there were no audience to ever see it. Very freeing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I grew up in North Carolina and received my BFA from The University of N.C. Greensboro and went on to receive my MFA from Claremont Graduate University in California.
From my earliest jobs I have always worked in the arts field. I’v worked in galleries: The Drawing Center, The Heller Gallery, museums: The American Crafts Museum. I’ve taught art in high schools and colleges, Southeastern Community College, Fashion Institute of Technology, I’ve even taught art in a Federal Prison in Butner, N.C.
However my longest job was with Evergreene Architectural Arts in NYC where I was the Director of Decorative Painting for 32 years. My fine arts background and passion for the decorative arts were a perfect marriage for the position that I held.. During my tenure, I designed and invented hundreds of decorative finishes for public buildings and private residences, led workshops, lectured, published articles and advised architects and interior designers around the country.
After retiring from this full time job in 2015, I have continued my career as a painter and have my studio in Brooklyn where I live surrounded by my family and a wonderful community of artists. Every January, I take a month’s break from my own work to restore and repair damages to the painting and gilding of the horses on the amazing “Jane’s Carousel” in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Then, it’s back to my own studio where I am preparing for a solo exhibition at the 440 Gallery in Park Slope opening on March 30th.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
During my tenure at Evergreene Architectural Arts I learned many decorative painting techniques that were applied to disparate surfaces from sculptures to architectural surfaces like walls, ceilings and floors both interior and exterior. These were techniques that I had never learned in either graduate or undergraduate art school. The experimentation with products made from around the world on surfaces other than paper or canvas provided invaluable knowledge that I have been able to apply to my fine art practice and which have added to the unique qualities of my work. The materials and techniques from fields other than fine art have always been a great source of inspiration and inquiry for artists. I would encourage young artists to use all the skills at hand though they might seem far afield. The most unlikely materials and techniques may turn out to be the most useful.
Just as valuable as knowledge of materials and techniques has been expanding my personal awareness of my own experience of life as distinguished from a more objective reality. I love a good story and much of my art has been sourced out of the narratives that life has thrown my way. Seeing these stories as parables rather than as emotional albatrosses has been extremely freeing and continues to nourish my work..
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I met my husband, Jim Roi, in 1979 when he was going to Colombia and I was living and working as an artist in Soho. He was passionately studying philosophy and over the years he developed a consulting business based on his studies in philosophy as well as his interest in compulsive behaviors and a series of programs called Landmark Education. Jim introduced me to all of his passions which have given me some of the most valuable sources of wisdom in dealing with the vast ups and downs life, particularly as an artist, has to offer. Jim has been the staff I lean on in good times and bad. Though we have accomplished much in our partnership, the constant striving for inner growth has been the most rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robroidesign.com/
- Instagram: @robroidesign
- Facebook: Robin Lehrer Roi
Image Credits
Erik Snyder Photography Paul Takeuchi Photography
