Matisse Window, 1966; oil on canvas; 24 1/4" x 28 1/4"

     Exhibited: Portland Art Museum

Time Cycle Occurrence #3, 1966; oil on canvas; 36" x 30"

   Exhibited: Portland Art Museum, 1967

Robert Coghill is an artist whose work will be known to long-time observers of the Portland scene, and an exciting discovery to others.

Born in Eugene, Oregon, in 1934, Coghill began his advanced study of art at the University of Oregon, where he audited classes from 1961-62.  He met the Oregon sculptor Jan Zach at this time, learning about commitment and what it really means to be an artist.  Next, Coghill moved to Portland, studying painting at the Museum Art School from 1962-66 (now PNCA), where his primary teacher was Louis Bunce.  Tremendously important to Coghill's growth as an artist, Bunce aided and encouraged the young artist significantly.  Taking an active interest in Coghill's development, Bunce helped the young artist win grant and scholarship money, included him on trips to see important art exhibitions in other cities, and discreetly left boxes of art supplies on Coghill's porch, when money ran low.  Coghill graduated from the Museum Art School in 1966.  He was also a studio assistant to the sculptor Manuel Izquierdo, and was strongly influenced by the sculptor Mel Katz, who was actively working as a painter at this time and had recently arrived in Portland from New York City.  Painter Harry Widman, was another important influence, guiding Coghill in learning more about what it means to make art and be an artist.

Coghill began work as an exhibit preparator at Arlene Schnitzer's Fountain Gallery in 1966,  and was the Gallery Manager for a time.  He had a one-man show at the Fountain Gallery in 1967, and also participated in numerous group shows there.  Coghill remained involved with the Fountain Gallery in various ways through 1971.

Coghill joined the faculty at the Museum Art School from 1967-71, where he taught painting, drawing, composition, basic design, and sculpture.  He was honored with a one-man show at the Portland Art Museum in 1975.  Many of the works in our exhibition were featured in this PAM show, or were exhibited at the Fountain Gallery.

During his Portland years, Coghill was an important advocate for new ways of making art, embracing modernity and abstraction.  He worked hard to stay informed about what was currently happening in the art world, both in the United States and Europe, and was often strongly influenced by what he discovered.  The American artist Kenneth Noland, for instance, was very influential in the genesis of Coghill's ideas about making shaped canvases.  I should add that Coghill's shaped canvases are very rare, and that we are fortunate to have a beautiful one in our show.

Coghill's work is featured in many distinguished public collections including the Portland Art Museum, Harsch Investment Group, Bess Kaiser Foundation, U.S. Steel Corporation, Portland General Electric, the Catlin Gabel School and many others.  Private collections include Jordan Schnitzer, Dr. Herbert Semler, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer, Dr. Herbert Goodman, Dr. John O'Halloran and numerous others.

Robert Coghill continues to make art, and lives on the Oregon coast.

ROBERT COGHILL

Modernist Paintings From The 1960's


Show Dates: June 3 - June 27, 2015


Reception And GalleryArtist Talk: Saturday, June 20th, 2015, 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Artist Jack Portland, a close friend and colleague of Coghill's, will speak about the show at 2:00pm

Dream Wheel #2, 1966; oil on canvas; 66" x 59"

 Exhibited: Fountain Gallery

Michael Parsons Fine Art

716 S.W. Madison

Portland, OR 97205

Phone 503-206-8601

Gallery Hours:  Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm-5pm

E-Mail:  michaelparsonsfineart@gmail.com

Web:  michaelparsonsfineart.com