Robert Irwin Wolf

Robert had always been considered the ‘school artist’ throughout elementary, junior, and senior high school. After graduating from Pratt Institute with a degree in Art and Design he began teaching art and photography in 1968. While working with his first students, who were emotionally disturbed youngsters, he grew interested in integrating aspects of ‘psychology’ within the creative art experience. In 1970, while continuing his teaching, he returned to academic pursuits beginning with studies in sculpting and photography at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, PA, and later back to Pratt Institute for the completion of a Master's degree in Art Therapy, followed by post-graduate training in Psychoanalysis at The National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis and finally a doctoral degree in Psychoanalytic Studies from the Parkmore Institute.

Upon completing his art therapy training in 1980 he joined the Faculty of The College of New Rochelle, where he remained a Professor in the Studio Art and Art Therapy graduate programs for 39 years, teaching art therapy, stone carving, and photography. Upon the closure of the College of New Rochelle in 2019 he was promoted to Professor Emeritus and began teaching stone carving at the College of Mount St. Vincent where he continues currently as an adjunct faculty.

His continued interest in combining aspects of creativity and psychology led to his election as Director of the Institute for Expressive Analysis in New York City from 1993 to 1997 and again from 2015 to 2019. He has been part of the Faculty of the Training Institute of the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, the Institute for Expressive Analysis, and Pratt Institute where he taught courses on the Therapeutic Uses of Photography and the integration of creativity and psychoanalysis, such as the creative processing of countertransference and dreams.

These experiences have formed the basic foundation for his development as a sculptor and photographer. Throughout this period he has continuously evolved as a fine art photographer and sculptor of abstract form. His intense interest in both people and art is reflected in these contemporary art forms. He believes that the forces that heal and promote emotional growth in people are related to those that influence our sense of aesthetics in artwork. His stone and wood sculptures are a blend of figurative and abstract elements that combine to suggest a ‘gestural’ feeling that is intrinsic to human experience on a visceral level. His portrait photography expresses his particular view of his subjects, chosen during his travels throughout the world, as he attempts to capture the ‘essence’ of the character of the subject caught in the uniqueness of the moment.

His work has been exhibited internationally and pieces of his work are part of the permanent collection of the Menninger Foundation and the personal collection of Anderson Cooper.

• Interview: Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, November 2023
• Featured Exhibition, Hado Mark Gallery, Lenox, MA, August - September 2022.
• London International Creative Competition, Professional Finalist, Fine Art Competition, February 2022.
• The Camelback Gallery, Selected as a ‘Featured Artist”, February 2022-February, 2023.
• Circle Foundation, “Spotlight”, Contemporary Art Magazine, Issue 27, page 170
https://issuu.com/circlefoundationforthearts/docs/spotlight27_cfa_press_web
featured artist, 12/21.
• International Creative Competition, Sculpture Award, Timeline, 2021.
• Featured Artist, Artweek Magazine, February 2021
• Featured Artist, ArtBase Magazine, February 2021
• Gold and Bronze Awards for Excellence in Sculpture, The Camelback Gallery, “Timeline” and “Adversity 2020”, February 2021
• Merit Award, Grey Cube Gallery Juried Exhibition, Modern Art; two sculptures: “Adversity 2020” and “Timeline”, December 2020
• Finalist, www.Artroomgalleryonline, International Art Competition, “Painting and Photography”, December 2020.
Feature Shoot; Online Magazine, Contributor to article: Photography As Self Therapy: An Introduction, November 2020
• Islip Council of the Arts, and AARP CoSponsored Virtual Exhibition: Art 50+, Jury Selected Finalist to speak at Closing Reception, November 2020.
• Atlantic Gallery, Chelsea, NY, Group Exhibition, Stone Sculpture, November 2018
• Pop-Up Solo Sculpture Exhibition, Rome Gallery, Chelsea, NY, May 2015.
• The Mooney Gallery, Campus of the College of New Rochelle, participant: Trauma A Juried Exhibit, March 2013.
• The National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, Invitational Art Exhibition, December 2011
• Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, Studio Art Faculty Exhibition, Stone Sculpture, March 29 – June 17, 2011
• Pratt Institute, Schafler Gallery, Juried Exhibition "CROSSING DISCIPLINES: BOOKS", February 9 - March 9, 2011
• Pratt Institute Dean’s Gallery, Brooklyn NY, Group Exhibition, June 2010
• Blue Door Gallery, Yonkers NY, “Memories In Art”, Group Exhibition, July, 2010
• Open Studio, Sculpture and Photography Event, March 2010, Manhattan, NY
• Mooney Gallery, College of New Rochelle, various Juried Art Exhibitions, 1981 – present.
• Artist’s Solo Exhibition: The National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, October 2009
• Hun Gallery, International Juried Art Exhibition, 2008, New York City, Feb 2008
• Pratt Schafler Gallery, “Spontaneous Gestures Realized”, January – March 2008

• Artist Website