Markey Robinson facts for kids

David Marcus Robinson (born 7 February 1918 – died 28 January 1999) was an Irish painter and sculptor. He was known for his unique and simple style of art.

Early Life and Early Career

David Marcus Robinson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 7 February 1918. His father was a house painter. From a young age, Robinson loved drawing more than playing outside. His teachers at Perth Street School noticed his talent and suggested he get art training. However, his family didn't have enough money for this.

So, Robinson took on many simple jobs, like washing dishes, until he was twenty. Then, he started learning to be a welder. Even as a child, he loved reading many books about art.

For a time, Robinson was even a successful boxer, fighting under the name Boyo Marko. When World War II began, he joined the Civil Defence to help people. He also studied briefly at the Belfast School of Art in the late 1930s and early 1940s. He worked with another artist named Sidney Smith. Robinson was known for disappearing for long periods, often working at sea, and then returning with many new paintings. He had an art studio on Crumlin Road for several years. In 1944, he married May Clarke, and they had two daughters, Bernice and Annie.

Artistic Journeys and Exhibitions

Throughout the 1940s, Robinson showed his art at places like the Ulster Academy of Arts and a gallery in London. In 1943, two of his paintings, Bomb Crater in Eglington Street and Fire at the International, were chosen for a special art exhibition. These paintings were later shown in London.

Robinson traveled a lot as a merchant seaman, visiting places like South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. His art shows how these different cultures influenced him. He spent time with Native Americans in Canada and traveled on big rivers like the River Plate and the Amazon. He even took his family to Europe and lived in Paris for a while, where he met famous artists like Raoul Dufy. He also lived on the same street as Joan Miró in Spain. Robinson believed that an artist wasn't truly an artist until they had visited Paris.

Hugh Charlton, an art dealer who recognized Robinson's talent early on, said that Robinson cared deeply about human rights and world events. The difficult times in Northern Ireland made him move to Dublin in the 1970s, but he later returned to Belfast.

In the 1940s, Robinson showed a painting called Painting at the first Irish Exhibition of Living Art. Early in his career, he would sell his paintings from the railings of St. Stephen's Green in Dublin. A shop nearby, the Country Shop, became like his own gallery. In 1947, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA) held a solo exhibition of his work. A famous opera singer, Anna Pollak, who also had no formal art training, bought one of his pieces. Robinson returned to the CEMA Gallery the next year, showing street scenes, portraits, and landscapes.

By the end of the 1940s, Robinson was a well-known artist. He was praised by the poet John Hewitt and was active in the Belfast art scene. He was friends with other artists like Alicia Boyle and Colin Middleton, and writers like Roy McFadden. One of his closest friends was the Ukrainian artist Paul Nietsche, who helped him improve his art and introduced him to an important art collector, Zoltan Lewinter-Frankl. Frankl became a good friend and supporter. The writer F. L. Green was also a friend, and his 1945 novel Odd Man Out featured a character inspired by Robinson.

Robinson continued to exhibit his work in the 1950s and 1960s. He even made toys like leprechauns and fairies for a friend to sell. In 1969, his studio burned down, so he went back to Spain. When he returned to Belfast the next year, the civil disturbances were too much for him, so he moved to Dublin.

Throughout the 1970s, he kept working and showing his art across Ireland and in the UK, including galleries in Cardiff and London. His work was also shown in Paris.

Some art dealers and critics didn't always take Robinson's work seriously, with some calling it unfinished. However, this was often because only a small part of his work, mainly landscapes, was shown, as there wasn't a market for his other subjects. Robinson often painted the same scenes because of this.

Susan Stairs, an art critic, said that the beauty of Robinson's work was its natural and fresh style. She noted that his paintings didn't look "finished" in a traditional way. Some galleries even tried to "touch up" his paintings, which they thought looked unfinished.

In 1990, Robinson had a solo exhibition at Villanova University in Philadelphia. He returned to Belfast in 1996 and lived there until his death three years later.

Death and Lasting Impact

Markey Robinson passed away at his home in Belfast on 28 January 1999, at the age of 80. He left behind two daughters and three grandchildren.

Robinson was a quiet and gentle person who didn't care much about the business side of art or how much money his work made. He avoided publicity and rarely attended his own exhibition openings or allowed his photo to be taken. He painted for himself and for those who truly appreciated his art.

Today, Robinson's art can be found in many private collections around the world. It is also part of public collections in places like the Northern Ireland Civil Service, the Ulster Museum, and Queen's University, Belfast.