Robert Rauschenberg
1925 – 2008
BORN IN
Port Arthur, Texas
KNOWN FOR
Assemblage, non objective painting, set design
Born Milton Rauschenberg in Port Arthur, Texas, Robert Rauschenberg became a leading figure in contemporary art, helping to break the dominance of Abstract Expressionism alongside Jasper Johns. Known for his innovative use of assemblage, printmaking, and non-artistic materials, Rauschenberg’s work anticipated movements like Pop Art, Conceptualism, and Minimalism. Celebrated for pushing the boundaries of art, he was named one of the top twenty-five influential Western artists by ARTNews in 1999. Rauschenberg’s art often bridged life and creativity, aiming to be an intermediary between the two. He received extensive formal education, studying at the Kansas City Art Institute, the Academie Julian in Paris, and Black Mountain College, where he met key figures like John Cage and Merce Cunningham. Known for creating environmental works, Rauschenberg also pioneered electronics in art and incorporated daily news into his paintings. His constant exploration of new materials took him across the globe, from Malaysia to Mexico.
