Employing paint, collage and silkscreen to masterful effect, Minervini’s still life paintings are beautiful and dystopian. House plants and succulents populate shelves littered with the detritus of Eastern and Western Civilizations, begging the questions of what will grow and what will not. Each rich tableau stops time as the items on display rest in the niches of a nostalgic version of the future. Caught between yesterday and tomorrow, these signs and symbols lose their significance and become nothing more than ornamentation, like the flora around them: a visual statement indicative of painting now in the post-Internet age.

Recalling early computer graphics, the recesses and shelves in Minervini’s paintings simultaneously dictate illusionistic space while flattening it. This convention, built through linear perspective and its repetition, is diagrammatic and easily-accepted. Further, it serves as the architecture holding the composition together despite the clutter of disparate elements. Venus with the Apple, a California cactus, a bull’s skull, Asian pottery, an aerial photograph of a hurricane; the Rauschenberg ideal of the flatbed now itemized and placed on a shelf. Individual significance is lost in Minervini’s cabinet of curiosities as objects are reduced to a flatness visually and conceptually. Like a Google search, they are simply images; devoid of any context which would raise them to greater meaning. Selected and safe-guarded, the objects are left to wait for a time when they can be taken down and revered once more.

Through freehand painting, masking with tape and contact paper, silkscreening or simply pasting on the surface, the objects in these paintings are imbued with a life of their own by Minervini’s deft rendering. The virtuosity and beauty on display reflect the artist’s deep love for the act of painting. This adoration elevates the paintings beyond simple still lifes, as technical prowess and complex arrangements give way to deeper emotional and conceptual statements. These are paintings that grow.

 

 

CV

Solo Exhibitions
2009 MFA, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

2005 BFA, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA

2003 Temple University, Rome, Italy 

SOLO EXHIBTIONS 
2019 Future Collapse, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2018 New Monuments, Hirschl and Adler Modern, New York, NY

2017 Life in the Shadows, Edward Cella Art & Architecture, Los Angeles, CA 
Improvised Gardens, Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2016 Speed x Distance x Time, Sandpoint gallery, University of Washington, Seattle

2015 Invisible Reflections, Rena Bransten Projects, San Francisco, CA

2013 Until Tomorrow Comes, Marine Contemporary, Venice, CA 
After Glow: As the Wick Burns, Electric Works, San Francisco, CA

2012 On the Nature of Things, Marine Contemporary, Venice, CA

2009 A Means to an End, Eleanor Harwood Gallery, San Francisco, CA 

 

TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS 
2016 California Utopias: Shifting Perspectives at the Edge of the West, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 
2014 Terminal Sunset, Littman Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR

2012 Hymns to the Moon, Johansson Projects, Oakland, CA 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 
2018 Both Directions at Once: Kala Fellowship Exhibition, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA

Rena Bransten Gallery, Pulse Art Fair, Miami, FL 
San Diego: The Architecture of Four Ecologies, The La Jolla Historical Society, CA

Hirschl and Adler Modern, Seattle Art Fair, WA

Group Hang: Print Edition, Minnesota Street Projects, San Francisco, CA 
Edward Cella Gallery, Art Palm Springs Art Fair, CA

A Sentimental Mood, First Amendment Gallery, San Francisco, CA

15-year Anniversary Exhibition, Root Division, San Francisco, CA 
2017 Rena Bransten Gallery, Pulse Art Fair, Miami, FL

California Connections: Selections from the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, California Center for the Arts, Escondido Group Hang,
Facebook Residency 5 year Anniversary Exhibition, The Lab, San Francisco, CA 
2016 Local II, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Vestiges, Gauntlet Gallery, San Francisco, CA 
Rena Bransten Gallery, Pulse Art Fair, Miami, FL

2015 Bird in Hand, Palo Alto Art Center, Palo Alto, CA 
Radical Landscapes, di Rosa, Napa, CA

Fresh stART, Area 1 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

In This Place, C2C Projects, San Francisco, CA

Forgetting the Future: Entropy in the Reflective Age, Torrance Art Museum, CA

Art Market, Art Fair, Rena Bransten Projects, San Francisco, CA

Transactions, Spring/Break Art Show, NY, NY 
2014 Space//Squared, White Walls Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Local, Mirus Gallery, San Francisco, CA 
Home: Shelter and Habitat in Contemporary Art, Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, OR

2013 New Acquisitions, Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla, CA 
Home: Shelter and Habitat in Contemporary Art, the Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

[In]finite Gardens, Delicious Spectacle, Washington D.C.

Art Pad, Art Fair, Electric Works Gallery, San Francisco, CA 
2012 The Day on Fire, Slocumb Gallery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

2011 Bay Area Now 6, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA 
ROY G BIV, Waterhouse and Dodd, New York, NY Art Platform, Marine Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA

Call & Response, Root Division, San Francisco, CA (Curated and Participated)

Salon No.8, Marine Contemporary Art Salon, Santa Monica, CA 
The Unreal World, Southern Exposure, San Francisco, CA

2010 Hi-Tide, Aqua Art Fair, Art Slant Booth, Miami Beach, FL 
A New Beginning, 941 Geary, San Francisco, CA

Salon No.5, Marine Contemporary Art Salon, Santa Monica, CA

Magic Window, Verge Gallery, Sacramento, CA 
2009 Brooklyn Utopias, Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn, NY

Introductions, Root Division, San Francisco, CA 
Master Pieces, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH

2008 The Immediate Future, The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery, San Francisco, CA 
Edwin Abbey Mural Fellowship Exhibition, The National Academy of Fine Arts, New York, NY 

 

LECTURE / VISITING ARTIST / PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 
2018 Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, Sonoma State University, Sonoma, CA

2017 Visiting Lecturer, Get Out of your Studio! Graduate Seminar, San Francisco Art Institute, 
San Francisco, CA 
Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

2016 Visiting Lecturer, Figure Drawing, Beginning Painting, Graduate Tutorials, University of 
Washington, School of Art+Art History+Design, Winter 
Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, Clark College, Vancouver, WA

2015 Painting & Drawing Instructor, Adult Education Program, City College of SF, CA 
(2012-16) Visiting Artist, Professional Practices, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA

Visiting Artist, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA

Visiting Artist, Painting, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 
2014 Lecturer, Design 160, Art and Art History Department, Stanford University, Stanford, CA,

Spring & Fall 
Painting Instructor, Public Education (ACE), San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA, Spring & Summer 
Painting & Drawing Instructor, Sharon Art Studio, Adult Education Program, San Francisco, CA

Public Lecture, Portland State University, Portland, OR 
2013 Printmaking Instructor, Summer Program, The Oxbow School, Napa, CA

Painting & Drawing Instructor, Adult Education Program, Root Division, SF, CA Public Lecture, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE Visiting Artist and Public Lecture, University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO Visiting Artist, Graduate Lecture Series, Professional Practices, San Francisco Art Institute, CA 
2012 Printmaking Instructor, Summer Program, The Oxbow School, Napa, CA Visiting Artist, Undergraduate Professional Practices, San Francisco State, San Francisco, CA 
2011 Painting & Drawing Instructor, Mission Voices Program, Southern Exposure, SF, CA Summer 
Painting & Drawing Instructor, ACE Program, San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA Spring Public Lecture, The New Natural, Bay Area Now 6, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA Visiting Artist, Painting Seminar, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 
2010 Painting & Drawing Instructor, Young Artists Program, San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA, Summer 
2009 Teaching Assistant, Painting & Drawing, San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA, Spring 2008 Teaching Assistant, Anatomy Drawing, San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA, Fall 
Mural Artist, Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA, 2004 - 2008 2006 Mural Art Instructor, Mural Corps Art Education Program, Mural Arts Program, Phila., PA 2005 Painting/Drawing Instructor, Continuing Education Program, Tyler School of Art, 
Philadelphia, PA 
AWARDS, COMMISSIONS & RECIDENCIES 
2018 Public Art Commission, SFO Airport Terminal 1 Project, San Francisco Arts Commission, SF, CA 
2017 Kala Fellowship Award and Residency, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA 
2015 Public Art Commission, Passport, The San Francisco Arts Commission, SF, CA Public Art Commission, Art on Market Street, The San Francisco Arts Commission, SF, CA 
2014 Artist in Residence, Facebook Analog Research Lab, Facebook Headquarters, Menlo Park, CA 
Artist in Residence, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA 2013 Artist in Residence, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Omaha, NE 
Finalist, Tournesol Award, The Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA 
Nomination, Eureka Fellowship, The Fleishhacker Foundation, San Francisco, CA 2012 Nomination, Painters and Sculptors Grant, Joan Mitchell Foundation, New York, NY Nomination, SECA Award, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA 
2010 Artist in Residence, Root Division, San Francisco, CA, 2009-2010 Public Art Commission, Art in Storefronts, Chinatown, The San Francisco Arts Commission, SF, CA 
2009 Artist in Residence, The Project Space, The Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA 2008 Murphy & Cadogan Fellowship, The San Francisco Foundation, San Francisco, CA 
Edwin Austin Abbey Mural Fellowship, The National Academy of Fine Arts, New York, NY 2007 Artist in Residence, The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT 2005 Carmela Corso Scholarship, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA 
PUBLICATIONS 
2017 Print Feature, Art Maze Magazine, Issue #3, London, England 2015 Print Feature, Paint Pulse Magazine, Issue #1, Boston, MA 
Print Feature, Lumina Journal, Vol. XIV, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY Print Feature, Centerfold Feature, Could:Painting What's Possible, The Atlantic Magazine, October Issue Review, Morris, Barbara, “Robert Minervini: Invisible Reflections" at Rena Bransten Projects,” Art Ltd Magazine, September Issue 
Print Feature, Curiel, Jonathan, "Hurray for William McKinley," SF Weekly, Wednesday, 5.6.15 Print Feature, Whiting, Sam, "Painter Tells Stories Behind Golden Gate Park Statues," 
San Francisco Chronicle, Front Page Datebook Section, 4.9.15 Online Feature, Whiting, Sam, "Park Meets Market Street in Poster Series," sfgate.org, 3.26.15 Artist Feature, Worth Magazine, San Francisco Edition, April 
2014 Review, Abrahams, Megan, Robert Minervini: Until Tomorrow Comes, Art Pulse Magazine, No.18, Vol. 5 
2013 Print Feature, New American Paintings, No.109, Pacific Coast edition, Open Studios Press, Boston, MA 
Exhibition Catalogue, Until Tomorrow Comes, Marine Contemporary, Venice, CA Review, Leah Ollman, "Utopia and Dystopia vie in Robert Minervini landscapes," LA Times, 12.24.13 Art Feature, Bush, Bill, "A Room With Nine Views," www.huffingtonpost.com /Artweek, 12.16.13 
Review, Cheng, Dewitt, Art Ltd Magazine, Critic's pick. May Issue Review, Bigman, Alex, Four New Art Shows Explore Civilization and Decay, 7x7 Magazine, 5.8.13 Review, Wright Hession, Stephanie, "Robert Minervini Art at Electric Works," S.F. Chronicle, 5.16.13 Art Feature, Image Blog, www.huffingtonpost.com 
2012 Print Feature, Cover Image, Studio Visit Magazine, Vol.16, The Open Studios Press, Boston, MA 
Exhibition Catalogue, On the Nature of Things, Marine Contemporary, Venice, CA Art Feature, Feinstein, Lea, Focus: Oakland, Art Ltd Magazine, pg. 28-29, May/June Issue Review, Carey, Anna, Johansson Projects presents surreal, sci-fi visions, The Daily Californian, 4.9.13 Art Feature, Bigman, Alex, Four April Art Shows to Keep You Busy, 7x7 Magazine, 4.3.12 Review, Nataraj, Nirmala, "Hymns to the Moon': Celebrating phases on Earth," SF Chronicle, pg. G-7, 5.22.12 Review, Meyers, Holly, Modern Painters, April Issue, Page. 86 Review, "Robert Minervini's Still Lifes Examine 'The Nature Of Things," www.huffingtonpost.com, 1.25.12 
Art Feature, Bush, Bill www.huffingtonpost.com, 1.16.12 
Online Interview, Rolnik, Daniel, www.argotandochre.com, 1.9.12 2011 Print Feature Book 6: Future Perfect, Beautiful Decay Magazine 
Print Feature, The Panhandler Magazine, Issue #5, University of West Florida, Pensacola, 
FL 2010 Print Feature, New American Paintings, No.91, Pacific Coast edition, The Open Studios 
Press, Boston, MA 
Exhibition Catalogue, Year One, Marine Contemporary Art Salon, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Exhibition Catalogue, Master Pieces, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH 2008 Print Feature, Mural Art: Large Scale Art from Walls Around the World, Kiriakos Iosifidis, 
Adbusters 
San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA San Francisco Arts Commission, CA Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, CA Royal Caribbean, Public Art Collection Cal Poly, Special Collections and Archives, San Luis Obispo, CA Ellie Mae, Pleasanton, CA Facebook, Menlo Park, CA General Hospital, San Francisco Arts Commission, San Francisco, CA Qualcomm, San Diego, CA Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn, NY