Robert Kipniss

Robert Kipniss was born in New York City in 1931 to parents who were both artists, fostering his early love of art. He began studying at the acclaimed Art Students League in 1947 and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Iowa in 1952, followed by a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Art History from the same school in 1954.
Kipniss gained recognition early, winning a 1951 art competition in New York City that earned him his first one-person exhibition. In the 1960s, he began creating graphic works, producing numerous drypoints, lithographs and intaglio works, particularly mezzotints. His subjects include spare trees in autumn and winter, modest houses with simple shapes, rolling countryside, and shadowy interiors, all devoid of human figures. Working in muted tones of white, gray, pale yellow and dusty green, he explores the effects of light and shadow to capture what he describes as atmosphere and fleeting moments rather than merely depicting physical objects.
His work has earned numerous honors, including the 1976 Ralphi Fabri Prize from the National Academy of Design, the 1978 Charles M. Lea Prize from the Print Club of Philadelphia, and the 1999 Boston Printmakers’ Rembrandt Graphics Award. Museums exhibiting his work include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, and The British Museum. Kipniss is represented by Park West Gallery.