Biography

Biography

By the time Robert Ray decided to leave his native Denver and move to Taos in 1954, he had served in the navy in the South Pacific during World War II, earned art degrees in California and Mexico, and lived in Europe for a year.  His decision to move came after being invited by Eulalia Emetaz to exhibit at La Galeria Escondida, which at the time was the place to exhibit as a modern artist.  In Taos, Earl Stroh introduced him to Helene Wurlitzer, who encouraged him to remain and provided him with a studio residence.

 

Becoming one of the first beneficiaries of Mrs. Wurlitzer's generosity, Ray was an included artist of several commissioned by Wurlitzer to paint portraits of her for family members. The artist went on to show his work in regional and national exhibitions. He sold some paintings, but during the quiet winters of the 1950s, when Taos faced an economic shutdown, he was forced to return to Denver for a few months of employment.

 

The most frequent subjects of his early Taos oil paintings and woodcut prints were still lifes and semi-abstract landscapes.  He was fascinated by the light of the Taos Valley—not just the light itself, but the way in which the quality of light defines the place.

 

In his work, intense concentrations of light contrast abruptly with darkness and fragmented forms.  He worked closely with the then-Harwood Foundation and, upon his death in 2002, left the title of his home to what is now The Harwood Museum of Art.

 

Schools of Study

University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 1950
Centro de Estudios Universitarios, Mexico City 1955

 

Partial List of Collections

Brooklyn Museum of Art, NY
Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO
Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE
Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO
Aspen Institute Executive Center, Aspen, CO
Midland Federal Savings, Denver, CO
Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM
Sheldon Museum, Lincoln, NE
Roswell Museum, Roswell, NM
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD

 

Selected Exhibitions

Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO 1953
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs, CO 1955
Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, NM (1956, 1959, 1967)
Roswell Museum and Art Center (1959, 1962, 1964)
Nelson Gallery-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, MO (1957, 1958, 1959)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (1957, 1959)
The American Federation of Arts, NY 1956
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 1955
Chrysler Art Museum, Provincetown, MA 1958
San Diego Museum of Fine Arts, San Diego, CA 1960
Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA 1965

 

Robert Ray at 203 Fine Art

The following exhibition catalogues, published by 203 Fine Art, feature works by Robert Ray. Please follow the links to view the catalogues on Issuu.

Taos Moderns in Santa Fe | 2019

Taos Moderns Return to The Stables Gallery | 2018

Robert Ray: Paintings from the Estate and Private Collections | 2017

Taos Moderns: Bridging the Gap | 2015

Works
  • Robert Ray, Untitled, Cliff Dwellings, 1957
    Robert Ray
    Untitled, Cliff Dwellings, 1957
    Oil on canvas
    38 x 36 inches
    96.5 x 91.4 cm
  • Robert Ray, Silences, II, ca. 1960s
    Robert Ray
    Silences, II, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    33 x 33 inches
    83.8 x 83.8 cm
  • Robert Ray, Untitled Winter Orchard, c. 1958
    Robert Ray
    Untitled Winter Orchard, c. 1958
    Oil on board
    6 ¾ x 20 inches
    17.1 x 50.8 cm
  • Robert Ray, Genesis II, 1962
    Robert Ray
    Genesis II, 1962
    Oil on canvas
    14 x 44 inches
    35.6 x 111.8 cm
  • Robert Ray, Abstract Horizon , c. 1960s
    Robert Ray
    Abstract Horizon , c. 1960s
    Tissue paper collage
    19 x 24 inches
    48.3 x 61 cm
  • Robert Ray, Winter in Taos, XV, c. 1970s
    Robert Ray
    Winter in Taos, XV, c. 1970s
    Oil on canvas mounted on board
    9 x 9 inches
    22.9 x 22.9 cm
    Framed 10 x 10 inches
    Framed 25.4 x 25.4 cm
  • Robert Ray, Light and Dark Light, 1968
    Robert Ray
    Light and Dark Light, 1968
    Acrylic on panel
    21 x 7 inches
    53.3 x 17.8 cm
  • Robert Ray, Winter in Taos XVII, Unknown
    Robert Ray
    Winter in Taos XVII, Unknown
    Oil on mounted linen
    9 x 9 inches
    22.9 x 22.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Moments of Space, 1997
    Robert Ray
    Moments of Space, 1997
    Watercolor on paper
    8 x 8 inches
    20.3 x 20.3 cm
  • Robert Ray, Reflections on Lake Powell, 1973
    Robert Ray
    Reflections on Lake Powell, 1973
    Liquitex on linen
    9 x 9 inches
    22.9 x 22.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Winter in Taos XIV, Unknown
    Robert Ray
    Winter in Taos XIV, Unknown
    Liquitex on linen
    9 x 9 inches
    22.9 x 22.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Baja Springtime Green III (#242), 1992
    Robert Ray
    Baja Springtime Green III (#242), 1992
    Watercolor on paper
    11 x 11 ½ inches
    27.9 x 29.2 cm
  • Robert Ray, Barred Brilliance I, 1965
    Robert Ray
    Barred Brilliance I, 1965
    Watercolor on paper
    10 ½ x 14 ¼ inches
    26.7 x 36.2 cm
  • Robert Ray, Haiku the Wind I, 1998
    Robert Ray
    Haiku the Wind I, 1998
    Watercolor on paper
    22 x 22 inches
    55.9 x 55.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Haiku the Wind II (#203), 1998
    Robert Ray
    Haiku the Wind II (#203), 1998
    Watercolor on paper
    22 ¼ x 22 inches
    56.5 x 55.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Incidents of Travel, 1970
    Robert Ray
    Incidents of Travel, 1970
    ink on paper
    11 x 14 inches
    27.9 x 35.6 cm
  • Robert Ray, Parched Pebble (#348), 1971
    Robert Ray
    Parched Pebble (#348), 1971
    manufactured metal on wood
    26 x 6 x 6 ¾ inches
    66 x 15.2 x 17.1 cm
  • Robert Ray, Shape of a Random Joy IV, 1974
    Robert Ray
    Shape of a Random Joy IV, 1974
    Wood, acrylic, epoxy
    36 x 36 inches
    91.4 x 91.4 cm
  • Robert Ray, Southwest Odyssey, unknown
    Robert Ray
    Southwest Odyssey, unknown
    Ink on paper
    14 x 22 inches
    35.6 x 55.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Southwest Odyssey #33 (2dR5)
    Robert Ray
    Southwest Odyssey #33 (2dR5)
    cut glass & stained glass collage
    11 x 5 ½ inches
    27.9 x 14 cm
  • Robert Ray, Taos Sunset VI , c. 1970s
    Robert Ray
    Taos Sunset VI , c. 1970s
    oil on mounted linen
    25 x 25 inches
    63.5 x 63.5 cm
  • Robert Ray, Transition, 2001
    Robert Ray
    Transition, 2001
    Watercolor on paper
    6 ½ x 6 ½ inches
    16.5 x 16.5 cm
  • Robert Ray, Untitled #1 (#137), 1995
    Robert Ray
    Untitled #1 (#137), 1995
    Watercolor on paper
    22 x 22 inches
    55.9 x 55.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Untitled #23 (#207), 1995
    Robert Ray
    Untitled #23 (#207), 1995
    Watercolor on paper
    10 ⅞ x 10 ⅞ inches
    27.6 x 27.6 cm
  • Robert Ray, Untitled #27, 1995
    Robert Ray
    Untitled #27, 1995
    Watercolor on paper
    7 ⅜ x 7 ⅜ inches
    18.7 x 18.7 cm
  • Robert Ray, Untitled #3 (#136), 1995
    Robert Ray
    Untitled #3 (#136), 1995
    Watercolor on paper
    22 ¼ x 22 inches
    56.5 x 55.9 cm
  • Robert Ray, Watercolor Sketchbook, 1968
    Robert Ray
    Watercolor Sketchbook, 1968
    11 paintings
    5 x 7 inches
    12.7 x 17.8 cm
  • Robert Ray, Dancing Over Chaos, c. 1960s
    Robert Ray
    Dancing Over Chaos, c. 1960s
    liquitex & paper collage
    14 x 17 ½ inches
    35.6 x 44.5 cm
    signed lower right
    Sold
Exhibitions