Royal Robertson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Royal Robertson
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Royal Robertson outside his home (from the documentary Make by Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn)
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| Born | 20 October 1930 |
| Died | 5 July 1997 (aged 66) |
| Nationality | American |
| Movement | Outsider art Visionary art |
Royal Robertson (born October 20, 1930 – died July 5, 1997) was an American artist. He was also known as the "Prophet Royal Robertson." He created unique artworks that often showed his personal visions and beliefs.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Royal Robertson was born in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, on October 20, 1930. He lived most of his life in Baldwin, Louisiana. He finished school after the eighth grade.
As a teenager, he learned to paint signs. In his early twenties, he traveled to the West Coast. He worked there as a field hand and sign painter. In the 1950s, he returned to Louisiana to care for his mother. He continued his work as a sign painter.
In 1955, he married Adell Bren. They had eleven children together. Their marriage ended after 19 years when Adell moved to Texas with their children.
His Artworks
After his marriage ended, Robertson stayed in Louisiana. He became very private and spent a lot of time alone. He experienced strong visions, which are like vivid dreams or images that seem very real. He said his first vision happened when he was fourteen. It was a futuristic vision of a spaceship with God driving it.
When his marriage ended, he started to draw and write about these visions. He believed his art was a special message from a higher power. He saw himself as a prophet, someone who shares important messages. He even called himself "Libra Patriarch Prophet Lord Archbishop Apostle Visionary Mystic Psychic Saint Royal Robertson."
Art Materials and Ideas
Robertson used many different materials for his art. He drew on poster board, paper, or wood. He used magic markers, tempera paint, colored pencils, and glitter.
He studied the Bible a lot. Many of his artworks include ideas from the Bible. He also used ideas from comic strips and science fiction. He was very interested in numerology, which is the study of numbers and their meanings. He also focused on prophecies about the end of the world from the Book of Revelation.
His art often showed difficult moments from his own life. He frequently drew about his wife leaving him. He even made calendars where he wrote short notes about his marriage on each date. Many of his drawings showed him fighting against evil forces. He often made his artworks double-sided. When he signed his pieces, he would add "Prophet" or "Patriarch" to his name.
His Home as Art
Robertson's home and yard were covered with his art. He had hundreds of signs, drawings, calendars, and small shrines. Inside his house, drawings were pinned to almost every wall. Many of these drawings were of his ex-wife. He also had several shrines dedicated to her inside his home.
His home was badly damaged by Hurricane Andrew in August 1992. After the hurricane, two art collectors helped him get aid from the government.
Art Shows and Collections
Royal Robertson's art has been shown in many exhibitions. His works are also part of permanent collections in several museums. These include the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the American Visionary Art Museum.
Exhibitions
- Called To Create: Black Artists of the American South, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, September 18, 2022 – March 26, 2023.
His Passing
Royal Robertson passed away suddenly in 1997. He was found unconscious in his backyard by his daughter Dinah. He died from a heart attack in Louisiana at the age of 66.
Films About His Work
In 2009, Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn made a documentary called Make. This film looked at the lives and art of Royal Robertson and other artists like Hawkins Bolden and Judith Scott.
In Popular Culture
The title of the 2010 album The Age of Adz by American artist Sufjan Stevens is a reference to Royal Robertson's work. Robertson's art is used for the album's cover and inside design. His images were also animated during the album's tour. The songs on the album are inspired by Robertson's art and life. They explore themes like "divine revelation, oracles, love, the cosmos, [and] the Apocalypse."
Images for kids
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Royal Robertson outside his home (from the documentary Make by Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn)
