Robert Storr

Robert Storr is a renowned American art curator, critic, and painter, known for his work with the Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and Venice Biennale. He has also taught at various institutions, including Yale University, New York University (NYU), and School of Visual Arts (SVA), and has written for publications such as Artforum, Art in America, and The New York Times. Storr's expertise spans a wide range of artists, from Pablo Picasso and Willem de Kooning to Gerhard Richter and Cindy Sherman. His curatorial work has been recognized internationally, with exhibitions at the Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, and Guggenheim Museum.

● Early Life and Education

Robert Storr was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in San Francisco, California, where he developed an interest in art and music, influenced by the works of Jasper Johns and John Cage. He studied art at the Switzerland-based Institut Allgemeine Gewerbeschule Basel, and later at the Chicago Art Institute, where he was exposed to the works of Francis Bacon and Egon Schiele. Storr's education also included time at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, where he was mentored by artists such as Alex Katz and Elizabeth Murray. His early influences also included the Abstract Expressionism movement, with artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

● Career

Storr's career as a curator and critic began in the 1980s, with positions at the New Museum of Contemporary Art and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia (ICA). He has also worked with the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, organizing exhibitions on artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Frida Kahlo, and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Storr's expertise in modern and contemporary art has led to collaborations with institutions like the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA). His work has also been recognized by the College Art Association (CAA), Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), and the International Association of Art Critics (AICA).

● Curatorial Work

As a curator, Storr has organized numerous exhibitions, including the 2007 Venice Biennale, which featured artists such as Richard Serra, Anish Kapoor, and Kiki Smith. He has also curated exhibitions on Chuck Close, Brice Marden, and Agnes Martin, among others, at institutions like the Dallas Museum of Art, High Museum of Art, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). Storr's curatorial work has been recognized for its innovative approach, which often combines the works of established and emerging artists, such as Takashi Murakami and Kehinde Wiley. His exhibitions have also explored themes such as Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, and Feminist art, featuring artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Judy Chicago.

● Writing and Criticism

Storr is a prolific writer and critic, with contributions to publications such as October (journal), Art Journal, and The Brooklyn Rail. He has written extensively on artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, and Cy Twombly, and has also published books on Philip Guston and Louise Bourgeois. Storr's writing has been recognized for its insightful analysis and nuanced understanding of the art world, with a deep knowledge of art history, from Renaissance art to Contemporary art. His criticism has also appeared in publications like The New Yorker, The Nation, and Harper's Magazine, and he has been a regular contributor to Artnet and Hyperallergic.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Storr has received numerous awards and honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellowship, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the American Academy in Rome prize. He has also been recognized by the French government with the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award, and has received honorary degrees from institutions like Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Storr's contributions to the art world have been acknowledged by organizations such as the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Getty Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation, and he continues to be a leading figure in the international art community, with affiliations to institutions like the Académie des Beaux-Arts and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.