A Life of Poetry and Portraiture
David Robilliard was a British poet and contemporary artist born in Guernsey. After moving to London in 1975, he sought a career as a musician and a poet. While he had no formal training as a painter, he began making drawings and writing poetry during his early years in Guernsey. His creative output in London was deeply intertwined with the social scene of Soho, Shoreditch, and various London clubs. He was a close associate of Gilbert & George, who encouraged him to pair his written words with visual images.
His poetic works include the volumes Inevitable and Swallowing Helmets. In 1987, he distributed shorter poems on postcards to a mailing list. His artistic output between 1987 and 1988 consisted of almost all paintings, which were portraits of acquaintances, fellow artists, and anonymous people he observed.
Exhibitions and Legacy
Robilliard's work has been featured in several notable exhibitions, including:
His paintings are held in the permanent collections of the Tate Modern in London, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Arts Council Collection. His work was also the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London in 2014.
Questions & Answers
Where are David Robilliard's artworks organized by color?
The Spectral Index of David Robilliard is a page that organizes the artist's artworks by their colors.
Can I visit a virtual museum of David Robilliard's works?
David Robilliard's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.
In which historical period did David Robilliard work?
David Robilliard worked in the Contemporary period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.
What aliases or alternate names does David Robilliard have?
David Robilliard is also known as David John Keith Robilliard.
