Robert Masla Biography & Resumé

In the 1970s, Masla coined the term Spiritrealism, to describe how the transcendental can manifest right before us - in the realm of the so-called mundane. Spiritrealism describes how the sensitive artist finds in the ostensibly material elements of artwork and everyday life, a reality utterly spiritual. "We are given the opportunity to participate in creation every day of our lives," says Masla. "Creating art is a form of worship, a form of spirituality born through creative living." In 1977 Masla opened an alternative space art gallery in Boston to exhibit Spiritrealism. Since that time his work has evolved through several stylistic developments, from abstraction to the use of trompe-l'oeil in symbolic still life. Throughout his career the artist has been devoted to the development of the technical mastery of his chosen media. Masla's dedication to the esthetics, ideals and philosophy of Spiritrealism have also remained consistent. "I like to think of each work of art as the creation of an energy field that effects the environment and people around it," he says, "and I want that to be a positive energy."

Over the last twenty+ years the energy fields of Maslas’ paintings have been manifesting most prolifically thru landscapes. Filling the common daily setting with an aura of mystical divinity and the suggestion of other worldly experiences has been one of his goals. One of the joys he has found in painting the landscape around him is to, "take things that we might pass by every day and bring them into focus - to see them again as if for the first time."

Masla was born in New York City , in 1957. He began his formal training in painting and drawing at age eleven in the studio of Alton S. Tobey. He holds a diploma in painting from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a B.F.A. from Tufts University, and received his graduate degree in painting from City College, City University of New York. He has lectured and taught painting, drawing and art history at several colleges and institutions and conducts workshops from his studio and home in rural Ashfield, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife and three children and is also offering workshops in their home/studio South - Casa de los Artistas, in Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico.

Over the past thirty years Masla has exhibited extensively and his work is in numerous discerning private and corporate collections, such as Mass Mutual, Baystate Medical, and The Openheimer Fund to name a few. He has also authored Windows to the Spiritual World (1997, Transcendental Art Associates), the catalog Spiritrealism - Places of Power, Sacred Objects, Magical Spaces, as well as two essays, entitled: The Healing Art of the Huichol Indians and Spiritrealism: Art as a Vehicle for Awakening Light Within Matter .

Born: March 10, 1957
New York, NY

Education:

1986 M.F.A. - City College, City University of New York
1979 Diploma in Painting - School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1979 B.F.A. - Tufts University, Medford, MA

Selected Solo and Invitational Exhibitions:

2009  “Digital Collage Paintings by Robert Masla” – Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA
2008 "Art in Embassies Exhibition" - United States Embassy, Sanaa, Yemen
2008  “Sense of Place” – Gallery 137, Indian Orchard, MA (3 artists invitational)
2007  “Near and Far - A Retrospective: Robert Masla 30 Years of Painting”
- R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
2004  “The Power of Creation” -Wings of Light Gallery, Shelburne Falls, MA 
2004  “3 Interpret Indiana” -Mallon Fine Arts Gallery, Indianapolis, IN (3 artists invitational)
2004  “Art Outside the Box”- R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton,MA  (artists invitational)
2003  “Featured Artist - Gallery 57”  -WGBY Public Television,  Springfield, MA
2002 "Earth-Water-Air-Light" -R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton / Amherst, MA
2001 "feel the Earth Move" - R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
2000 Four Seasons - R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
1998 Our Back Yard - R. Michelson Galleries, Amherst, MA
1998 Invitational - Southern Vermont Art Center, Dover, VT
1996 Views from the Summit and Beyond - R. Michelson Galleries,
Northampton, MA - (reviewed by Art New England, Feb. 97 issue)
1996 “A Touch of Mysticism” - Clark Whitney Gallery, Lenox, MA
1993 “Spiritrealism” - R. Michelson Galleries, Amherst, MA
1988 “Spiritrealism” - Main Gallery, MWCC, Gardner, MA
1987 “Artistic Antecedents” - Eisner Gallery, NY, NY
1982 “Impressions of Europe” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA -
(reviewed by Art New England, Feb. 82 issue)
1981 “ Different Views” - Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA
1981 “MASLA” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA
1980 “Light Patterns” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA
1980 “Spiritrealism,” The Art Forum Ltd., Brighton, MA
1979 “ Prana” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA
1979 “Spiritrealism” - Scarsdale National Bank, Scarsdale, NY
1978 “Spirit is the Essence” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA
1977 “Spiritrealism” - Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2010   “Group Exhibition” – Gallerie des Atristes, Puerto Vallarta,  Mexico
2010 "Boca Remembrance: An Exhibition of Artwork Inspired from a week at
Casa de los Artistas" - Dane Gallery, Indian Orchard Mills, MA
2009   “Group Exhibition” – Gallerie des Atristes, Puerto Vallarta,  Mexico
2009 "All that Jazz - A Collection of Instructors Work from the Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton Center for the Arts, Northampton, MA
2008   “Group Exhibition” – Gallerie des Atristes, Puerto Vallarta,  Mexico
2007   “New Landscapes” – Gallerie des Atristes, Puerto Vallarta,  Mexico
2006   “Teapots”– The Hart Gallery, Northampton, MA
2002 "Minds Island Juried Exhibition" - Pen and Brush Gallery, N.Y., N.Y.
2001 "Miniatures- Gallery Artists Exhibition" - Editions Limited Gallery,
- Mallon Fine Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
2001 "Group Exhibition" -R. Michelson Galleries, Northampton, MA
2000 "Visions of the Deerfield" - Invitational Exhibition, Deerfield Historical Society, Deerfield, MA
2000 -Paradise City Arts Festival, - Northampton, MA
2000 -Collectors Gallery,- Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, Vermont
1999 -Flowers in February,- Sherry French Gallery, New York, NY
1999 -The Four Seasons,- Sherry French Gallery, New York, NY
1998 -Small Sizes - Precious Pieces, - Sherry French Gallery, New York, NY
1998 -Mainely Maine, - Sherry French Gallery, New York, NY
1998 -Group Show,- R. Michelson Galleries - Northampton MA
1997 -Self as Portrait,- Hart Gallery - Northampton, MA
1997 -Group Show, Wilkins Fine Art,- Springfield, MA
1990 -2009 “December Exhibition and Sale,” -annual juried faculty, alumni student, exhibition. SMFA Galleries, Boston, MA Honored with “Medici Society” Membership for contributions through sales.
1990 -Art and Religion - a Dialogue,- Amherst Gallery, R. Michelson Galleries-Northampton & Amherst,MA
1990 -The Artist Sees Their Self,- Amherst Community Arts Center, Amherst, MA
1989 -Art as Healing,- Hampshire College Gallery, Amherst, MA -
Guest lecturer sponsored by the Womans' Caucus for the Arts - (interviewed on WFCR - public radio)
1989 -Art as Healing,- Canal Street Gallery, Holyoke, MA
1987 -A Tree Grows In Harlem - Right Hemisphere Group Show,? Aaron Davis Gallery, New York, NY
1987 -Fall Show Invitational,- Somers Gallery, Somers, NY
1986 -Appropriated Images,- National Juried Competition, Eisner Gallery, New York, NY
1984 -Juried Group Show,- The Copley Society, Boston, MA
1983 -Juried Group Show,- The Copley Society, Boston, MA
1977 - 82 “Annual Spiritrealist Group Exhibition,” -Gallery Cintamani, Boston, MA
1982 -Gallery Cintamani Artists Group Exhibition,- Brooks Hospital, Brookline, MA
1981 -Group Show,- Anaya Gallery, Scarsdale, NY
1981 -Art Happens,- Gallery East, Boston, MA
1981 -Group Show,- The Art Forum Ltd., Brighton, MA
1981 -Group Show.- The Kiteman Gallery, Nantucket, MA
1980 -Group Show- Main Street Gallery, Nantucket, MA
1980 -Gallery Cintamani Artists Group Exhibition, - Brooks Hospital, Brookline, MA
1980 -Group Show,- Art Cellar, Cambridge, MA
1980 -Group Show,- Kolbo Gallery, Brookline, MA
1979 -Museum School Fund, Exhibition and Sale- The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
1978 -Gallery Cintamani Artists Group Exhibition,- Brooks Hospital, Brookline, MA
1978 -Gallery Cintamani Artists Group Exhibition,- The Brookhouse, Brookline, MA
1977 -Grand Opening Viewpoint Gallery, Newport, RI
1977 -Gallery Cintamani Artists Group Exhibition,- Brooks Hospital, Brookline, MA
1976 -BOYT Exhibition,- Boston City Hall, Boston, MA
1975 - Art Spirit - Two Painters Visions- - YMWHA Gallery, Scarsdale, NY
1971 -Members, Invited Artists and Students Exhibition,- Westchester Artists Guild, Larchmont, NY


Selected Bibliography:

Sally Mansfield, editor "Art in Embassies Exhibition Catalogue" - Art in Embassies Program, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. August 2008, pp.10, color reproduction.

Julia Courtney, “Artistic Escape” – The Artist’s Magazine, April 2007,  pp. 20, 2 color reproductions.

Cheryl Rezendes, “Near and Far - A Retrospective” – review in the Greenfield Recorder,  March 2007

Cheryl Rezendes, “Sharing in an Artists Dream” – online article,  ArtID website

Hoppin, Martha, "Depicting Mt Holyoke a Dialogue with the Past" essay in the book "Changing Prospects - The View from Mt. Holyoke", edited by Marianne Doezema. Mt. Holyoke College Museum and Cornell University Press, 2002, pp. 70, color reproduction.

Bander, Nina, "Mixing Spirituality and Art" Arts and Entertainment - The Recorder, March 14, 2002, Section Cover color photo, 2 b/w reproductions.

Driscoll, John. and Skolnick, Arnold “The Artist and the American Landscape”
Chameleon Press, 1998, pp. 57, color reproduction

McKown, Rich. “Robert Masla: Views from the Summit and Beyond,”
Art New England, Feb. 1997, pp. 41, b/w reproduction.

Doro, Julliette. “Surround Yourself with beauty,”
Arts & Leisure - Amherst Bulletin, Nov. 1998, Section 2 cover, b&w reproductions.

Crolius, H. Ali. “Studying fine art, ‘ Live as an artist ’, ”
Dailey Hampshire Gazette, Dec. 1998, pp. w-2.

Mathews, Richard. “Getting Along on the Deerfield,”
Sanctuary - The Journal of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Nov./Dec. 1996, pp. 17, color reproduction.

Lieblich, Rebecca. “Capturing the Spirit of Things,”
Optimist, Oct. 24, 1996, Cover and pp. 10, color reproductions

Houdeck, Richard. “flicka returns, a Spiritrealist debuts & a genius lives on,”
Berkshire Summer - Artscene, July 5, 1996, b/w reproduction.

Russell, Gloria. “Spiritrealism takes bold approach to ethereal ideas,”
Speaking Of Art - Springfield Sunday Republican, June 27, 1993, b/w reproduction.

Watson, Bruce. “Paintings come to life when spirits move him,”
Dailey Hampshire Gazette, June, 1993, b/w reproduction.

Nahum, Katherine. “Regional Reviews: Massachusetts”
Art New England, Feb./March, 1982, b/w reproduction.

Masla, Robert. “Windows to the Spiritual World,”
Transcendental Art Associates, 1997

Masla, Robert. “Spiritrealism - Places of Power, Sacred Objects, Magical Spaces,”
Pro Media Group/Masla Studios, 1993, color reproductions

Masla, Robert. “The Healing Art of the Huichol Indians,”
Many Hands, Fall, 1988, pp. 30.

Masla, Robert. “Spiritrealism: Art as a Vehicle for Awakening Light Within Matter,”
Many Hands, Winter, 1988, pp. 30.

Masla, Robert. “The A4E Project, Art Is Education. Expression, Exploration Empowerment” -School Arts Magazine, December 2007 see:
http://www.davis-art.com/Portal/SchoolArts/articles/12_07A4EProgram

Masla, Robert. The online article “A Hot Beachfront Vacation Town That Also Has a Secret Love Affair with the Visual Arts” -The Cultured Traveler, April 2007, see: http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/Archives/Aug2007/Puerta_Vallarta.htm

Masla, Robert. “The Color of Light: A New England Artist who also paints South of the border.”  -Article in New England Watershed Magazine, May, 2007 color reproductions

The online article “Mixing it up - Something old with Something New, The Digital Collage Paintings of Robert Masla”, 2007, see:
http://www.maslafineart.com/digitalcollagepaintings.html

Masla has held Membership in the following Professional Societies:

Medici Society, SMFA
Boston, MA

Southern Vermont Art Center
Manchester, Vermont

The National Society of Mural Painters
New York, NY

The Copley Society
Boston, MA