Bio


Rob Millard-Mendez is an artist and educator

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Bio


Rob Millard-Mendez is an artist and educator

 

I was born in an old textile town in Massachusetts. Growing up around mills and machines fostered in me a fascination with late-nineteenth century mechanical technology. 

I am a first generation college student. I am grateful for the generosity of Dr. An Wang (the founder of Wang Laboratories) who funded several full academic scholarships to the University of Massachusetts Lowell, one of which I received. After receiving a BFA in Sculpture, I went on to receive an MFA in Sculpture from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. In my career as a college art instructor I have tried to honor Dr. Wang's commitment to education by undertaking many art-related community outreach projects that involve diverse populations. 

I am currently a Professor in the Art and Design Department at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana. I specialize in teaching 3-D studio courses, but I have taught everything from art appreciation to painting.  Being a lifelong student has invigorated my teaching.  I continuously hone my own artistic skills and learn new sculptural processes. I have had the opportunity to work with many esteemed artists/craftspeople like Steve Whittlesey, David Ellsworth, Silas Kopf, Marc Adams, Michael Hosaluk, and Phil Lowe.

I have shown my work in over 500 exhibitions. My work has been exhibited/presented in all 50 states as well as internationally. I’ve had over 30 solo exhibitions. I have received over 100 awards for my art and teaching and my sculptures are in over 75 private and public collections. I have been teaching at the college level for almost 20 years and I’ve often been asked to present lectures about art to different audiences.  Please feel free to contact me with any inquiries.

 
Rob at the bench at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking

Rob at the bench at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and Time-Honored Crafts.

STATEMENT


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ARTIST STATEMENT

The primary aim in my work is to illustrate and analyze concepts that I find enthralling. The resulting objects deal on many levels with formal and conceptual issues. In my work, I hope to show an equal blending of art, craft, and the presentation of engaging ideas in intriguing ways. The works are meant to involve the viewer visually and intellectually. 

 

My sources include mythology, science, history, and American Folk Art (among others). The objects I make reflect the sensibilities of a person steeped in New England practicality who (for better or worse) ended up learning about things like art history and existentialist philosophy. Many of my sculptures are based on themes from classical mythology viewed through the lens of contemporary events. I have a strong interest in how mythemes surface and re-surface throughout human history in many varied (but related) guises. I very much enjoy how masks and figurative sculptures are used in disparate cultures to play out everyday dramas that echo age-old narratives.