Robert Cargo
FOLK ART GALLERY
Self-taught, visionary, and outsider artists of the South
African-American quilts · Haitian spirit flags
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| Royal Robertson (1936 - 1997) |
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Each drawing is a window into the tormented world of the self-proclaimed “Prophet” Royal Robertson. Bible verses and religious references mix with futuristic visionary images in highly eccentric, provocative works chronicling his paranoia and unsettled mental state. His themes include images of aliens and spaceships, architectural drawings of dream houses and temples in futuristic cities, superhero figures, and portraits of Adelle and other Amazon women. Robertson embellishes the colorful drawings with rambling, ranting texts, sometimes in cartoon-like balloons, that leave no doubt about the judgment reserved for adulterous whores and unfaithful spouses. Many of these works include calendars chronicling agonizing memories of his unfaithful wife and their spoiled marriage in brief journal notations scribbled in each date's block. Robertson's preoccupation with numerology and biblical prophecies of earth's final days as found in the book of Revelation are also evident. Robertson created an extraordinary environment within his modest home in Baldwin, Louisiana. On the exterior, painted signs warned “whores” and “bastards” to stay away. The interior of his home was densely crowded with his drawings pinned to every available wall. In August 1992, the home was completely destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. With the help of two collectors who helped him file papers with the federal government, he recovered from his losses. In 1997, Royal Robertson died suddenly, just as he was finally reconciling his relationship with two of his children. |
Click on thumbnails to view enlargements.
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Robert Cargo Folk Art Gallery
Caroline Cargo, Director
110 Darby Road · Paoli, PA 19301
610-240-9528 ·
info@cargofolkart.com
Inquiries welcome. Open by appointment only.