“Blue Metal” 180cm x 60cm Mixed Media on Linen

“I’m in a sense…an improvisational artist, improvising a real life situation into Art.”-
Rob Forlani

“I suppose when asked where I sit in the art world I would say that I have become known for bold application of colour and texture in my work. I attempt the use of symbolism to mark my marks on the canvas as a starting point, which for me is crucial.

This then guides my brush strokes into abstract pieces. Every piece has a meaning as I try to precipitate events in the real world into more of a concrete circumstance… a kind of Abstract Realism if such a thing exists…This is my method.”

It’s Rob’s collective experiences brought to life by art tutor/impressionist painter Darryl Jane, a trip to Italy in his teens, the post-impressionist and ‘fauve’ movements that influenced his various styles.  It was the serendipitous discovery of artists such as Kandinsky, Hans Hofmann, Pollock and Helen Frankenthaler that aroused Rob’s interest in Abstract Expressionism.

This then started a process of precipitating real life events and situations, spawning concepts and ideas, which ultimately culminate in abstract paintings creating his first exhibition in 2000.

In Mid 2005 Rob was selected to participate in New York’s Agora Gallery’s “Out From Down Under and Beyond: An Exhibition of Fine Art from Australia and New Zealand” with 11 other well-known Australian artists. While traveling through some of the USA’s most eclectic cities, such as New York, Boston, Washington DC and San Francisco, Rob was able add to his growing melting pot of influence and style.

In 2006, Rob’s work was chosen for a solo exhibition, entitled “Essential Abstracts,” to open Zinc Details newest store, San Francisco’s globally renowned interior store. Shortly after San Francisco, Rob attended his first European solo exhibition at the Art Gallerier Moderna i Stockholm.

Rob has successfully displayed his work in Perth, Margaret River, Sydney, Melbourne, The Gold Coast, Adelaide, Stockholm, Auckland, New York and San Francisco.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

2008 “Modern Parallels” LK Galleries, Subiaco, Western Australia

2007 “Tiger Lounge” Fusion Fine Arts, Mandurah Ocean Marina, Western Australia

2007 “Compressed Tangents” Gallery 101, Western Australia Club, Perth, Western Australia

2006 “Ambienza” Art Gallerier Moderna i Stockholm, Sweden

2006 “New Works” Borgia Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA

2006 “Quintessence” Tristan’s the Gallery, Northbridge, Western Australia

2005 “Essential Abstracts” Zinc Details Gallery, San Francisco, USA

2005 “Symbolista” Jahroc Gallery, Margaret River, Western Australia

2004 “New Mood” Kings Art Gallery, Perth, Western Australia

2003 “New Works” Gadfly Gallery, Dalkeith, Western Australia

Selected Joint/Group Exhibitions

2008 Group Exhibition -“Abstract Elements”, Lumiere Gallery, Cottesloe, Western Australia

2007 Group Exhibition -Con.ceit’ 07 - the Corangamarah Art Prize, Victoria, (by Invitation)

2006 Group Exhibition -“Little Tempters” Artworks Gallery, Gold Coast, Queensland

2006 Group Exhibition -Greenhill Galleries Adelaide, South Australia

2006 Group Exhibition -“Inspired Collective” ARQ Artworks, Osborne Park, WA

2006 Joint Exhibition -“Lush” Fusion Fine Arts, Mandurah Ocean Marina, WA

2005 Joint Exhibition -Borgia Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA

2005 Group Exhibition -Agora Gallery, SoHo, New York, USA

2004 Group Exhibition -“Mt Lawley the Journey.” Gallery 360 Mt. Lawley

2000 Joint Exhibition -Accent Gallery, Dalkeith, Western Australia

C o m m i s s i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Collections

Muse Ten, San Francisco, USA

Perth Oncology, Subiaco, Western Australia

Cliffs Asia-Pacific, Perth

Skanska Construction, Sweden

Geisha Bar, Northbridge, Perth

Statton on Murray Apartments, Perth

Coca-Cola, Perth

Crisp Civitella Smith Lawyers, Perth

ANZ Bank Head Office, Perth

Shearman’s Strategic Communication, Northbridge, Perth

Loretta Carbray Interior Decorator, Hobart

Kings Perth Hotel, Perth

City OF Stirling Municipal Offices, Western Australia

Peter Fletcher Realty, Victoria Park,Western Australia

Azure Capital Lawyers, Perth

Clue Design web design & development, South Perth

Starlight Publicity, Perth

Pineview Lifestyle Village, Tapping, Western Australia

Heart Foundation, Western Australia

Scoop Magazine, Western Australia

Lauriston Girls School, Melbourne

Joondalup Health Campus, Western Australia

Summit Homes, Western Australia

NSC Corporate Consultants, Perth

Burrup Fertilizers Pty Ltd, Western Australia

MI Constructions, Western Australia

Odin Road Chiropractic Centre Western Australia

Glen O’Brien Real Estate, Fremantle, Western Australia

Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Western Australia

Surround Sounds, Nedlands, Western Australia

Whale + Ale Pub, Western Australia

Murchison Metals, West Perth

Represented By

· LK Galleries, Subiaco, Western Australia

· Jahroc Galleries, Margaret River, Western Australia

· Agora Gallery, SoHo, New York, USA

· Art Moderna Gallerier i Stockholm, Sweden

· Borgia Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA

· Greenhill Galleries Adelaide, South Australia

· Ode To Art Gallery Singapore

· Blkmrkt Gallery Gold Coast, Australia

Media

· Access Channel 31 “Eye On Perth” July, 2002

· Xpress Magazine, “Eye For Arts” April, 2002

· Postcards W.A. July, 2004

· The Sunday Times “STM” Aug, 2004

· The Sunday Times Home Section Oct, 2004

· Scoop Magazine Sept, 2004

· Insite Magazine Nov, 2004

· Australian House & Garden Nov, 2004

· P+L Magazine Mar, 2005

· Zebra Magazine Jan, 2005

· Homes & Living Western Australia Jan, 2005

· 7 Network “My Restaurant Rules” The Mint Leaf Restaurant Mar, 2005

· ArtisSpectrum Magazine, USA, May, 2005

· Qantas In Flight Magazine May, 2005

· The West Australian Newspaper “Today” July, 2005

· The Sunday Times, “Prestige Property” Oct, 2005

· Instyle Custom Homes Magazine Oct, 2005

· Insite Homes Design & Art Magazine Dec, 2005

· The Sunday Times “STM”, Celebri-Art” Jan, 2006

· The Sunday Times, “Prestige Property” Feb, 2006

· X-Press Magazine, Celebri-Art April, 2006

· Radio Mix 94.5 FM Morning Crew Mar, 2006

· The Sunday Times STM magazine “Mainy Hits The Canvas” May, 2006

· The Sunday Times STM magazine “Deckchair Auction” June, 2006

· Artist Chronicle WA July, 2006

· Western Suburbs Weekly “Work Of Art” Aug, 2006

· Stockholm City Newspaper “Ambienza” Aug, 2006

· Kultur 1 magazine, Stockholm Aug, 2006

· WA Homes & Living Magazine “Art Edition” Spring 2006 Sept, 2006

· The West Australian Newspaper “ART” by Debbie Guest Sept, 2006

· Radio 6PR Di Bauwens “Out And About In Perth” Sept, 2006

· X-Press Magazine “Eye 4 Arts” Oct, 2006

· The Sunday Times, Home Magazine “Smart Home” Jan, 2007

· Scoop Magazine June, 2007

· Radio RTR FM 92.1 Morning Magazine, The arts Aug, 2007

· Southern Gazette Arts & Lifestyle “Brighter future for WA Art Oct, 2007

· Australian Art Collector Nov, 2007

· Box Magazine 18, Autumn Edition March, 2008

Education

· Victoria Park Centre for the Arts, Western Australia

· Lecturer, Claremont School of Art

Associations

· Member, “The Artists Foundation of Western Australia”

· Member, Artists In Arms Western Australia

Awards – Grants

· Art Flight, Department of Culture & the Arts W.A. –AGORA GALLERY NEW YORK EXHIBITION 2005