Robert James Reed, Jr. (American, 1938-2015), Mixed Media Sculptural Assemblage

Contemporary, three-dimensional sculpture with cut and carved mixed media including: painted wood, acrylic, and paper; vinyl parquet laminate; foam core; and textile; all mounted to styrofoam backing and secured with screws or adhesive, possibly a maquette for a larger work, unsigned.

60 x 40 1/4 x 12 in.

A gift of the artist to the consignor's late husband.

Robert James Reed Jr., born in Charlottesville, Virginia, was an American artist and Professor of Painting and Printmaking at Yale University School of Art for 45 years. In 1987, Reed was appointed to Yale School of Art’s tenured permanent faculty making him, at the time of his death, the School’s first and only African-American to be so appointed in the School’s then 145 year history. In his artwork, Reed is known for his geometric abstraction and personalized symbols to create a language of abstraction. He employs abstract symbols, color and deeply textured brushwork to create his iconic imagery. As Reed would explain, fragments, paths, cultural and universal signs and symbols, remembered childhood images and places are organized into his imagery. His abstractions are referential and have their basis in “real” form that exists solidly in the real world in real space. His work includes paintings, drawings, monotypes, prints and collages.

Bio Courtesy of Black Art Story.

Areas of separation and looseness to vinyl, styrofoam cutouts, and plywood frame; loss to styrofoam backing; various areas of likely later glue residue; some creasing and edge-wear to foam core elements; areas of missing vinyl parquet laminate along lower edge of assemblage (shown in photos).