Palette - Vargas on Film
June 27th, 2009 Filed Under Art Scene, News
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Michael Jackson Super Bowl Show - I Was There!
June 26th, 2009 Filed Under Uncategorized
While attending the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts at Cal State L.A., there were fliers around campus for auditions to participate in the Super Bowl half time show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. My friend who was a dancer signed us both up. It wasn’t much of an audition because all you had to do was stay in formation. However, not until we arrived to the first rehearsal, two weeks before the show, did we find out that in fact Michael Jackson was going to be the one performing! So on Super Bowl Sunday, in order for us to get quick access to the field at half time, we sat in the front row, on Dallas’ side (the eventual winner), Just ten feet from the Dallas cheerleaders. The anticipation was ridiculous! When our time came, my formation put me literally - Right in front of the stage! The cluster of people going wild in front of him at 1:13 when he pops up from underneath the stage, are me and friends! I must admit, my excitement hit another dimension when Billie Jean came on. I’m not saying I fainted or anything, but let’s just say, when you see clips of those people being carried out of his concerts in Paris or Japan crying and screaming, “Michael!” - I understand. Lol! During the song at 4:04 you could see us jumping in front of him. He was at his absolute best at this time. Here’s to you Michael. In memoriam, sharing one of the best days of my life.
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LA Weekly/ Art Walk May 09
May 18th, 2009 Filed Under Art Walk, News, Press
Here’s a photo taken of me during the May downtown art walk for the LA Weekly! Click here to see more of the Art Walk. Special thanks to Timothy Norris for taking this pic!
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Vargas Reception - May 15th!
May 6th, 2009 Filed Under Exhibitions, Galleries, Solo Shows
Here are a few selected works from the Solo show currently on exhibit thru May 30th at the Edgar Varela Fine Art Gallery. There will be two new paintings unveiled at the reception for the artist on May 15th, 7 - 11PM! Note: The self portrait below, is painted entirely with oil bars, no brushes. The Last photo, was taken in my studio during a break for my dear friend Dennis who posed for my painting, Man. 
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Catching Up With Citizen LA
April 9th, 2009 Filed Under Art Scene, Exhibitions, Press, Solo Shows
Two years Later
Interview: Robert Vargas
Robert Vargas is gearing up for a solo show at Edgar Varela Fine Arts in April, but he has lost his muse. Miyoko, the octogenarian Japanese “High Priestess of Models,” is AWOL. She was the first figure model he ever drew, back at the LA County High School for the Arts. She was still living in LA after he moved back from New York three years ago, shortly after giving up his high-flying role as a talent buyer at the Conga Room.
Three years ago, he happened to see the spritely, shock-headed, mink-wearing model waiting to cross the road, and, leaving no room for ambiguity, he got her to visit his studio on a regular basis. She’s been posing for a portrait for the Varela show, one of the first carefully rendered paintings he will do of this life-long inspiration for what promises to be an intensely candid show. And just like she materialized out of the concrete and Beaux Art landscape, she is nowhere to be found. Read the rest.
Read the original Citizen LA Interview here!
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THE Magazine LA: Self-Portrait Feature Article
April 8th, 2009 Filed Under Exhibitions, Galleries, News, Press, Solo Shows
As seen in the print edition of this month’s THE Magazine Los Angeles.
A fixture in the Downtown LA art scene, Robert Vargas’s painting and drawing infuses classic genres of portraiture and nudes with an avant-garde explosivity that captures not only the visage and likeness of his subjects, but seems to excavate the intimate aspects of their character—all the while maintaining the strong voice of Vargas’ own artistry. His rough, viscerally sensual approach to line and texture, fetish for shadowy edge and expressive color, and almost mannerist choreography of abstraction and representation combine to unforgettable effect in his portraits of friends, strangers —and himself. An ambitious exhibition of new charcoal, oil, and installation works presented by Edgar Varela Fine Arts opens Downtown on April 18.
Words by Shana Nys Dambrot of Flavorpill.
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April Art Walk/Work in progress show (Part 2)
April 6th, 2009 Filed Under Art Walk, Galleries, News, Solo Shows
THE WORK IN PROGRESS SHOW (Part Two)
Once again this past April Art Walk, In preparation for my solo show at Edgar Varela Fine Art Gallery, I opened up the Regent gallery, operating it as both a traditional gallery as well as a live interactive, performance space, where artist, model and viewer become the art as a whole. More than paintings hanging on the wall, my live artwork encourages participation and discussion and when combined with patrons of the Art Walk, contributes to the fabric of the city. I believe an artist has the ability to contribute both to the present moment and to how the city’s history is written. Through the creative process, I engage with the viewer in dialogue as they are witness to the evolution of concept and execution in the moment. This process gives the viewer an opportunity for all to feel that their experience is beautiful and worth immortalizing. A very special thank you to Tom & Trish Gilmore for donating the space.
To view more photos of Art Walk click here!
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March Art Walk/Work in progress show (Part 1)
March 22nd, 2009 Filed Under Art Scene, Art Walk, Exhibitions, Galleries, News
THE WORK IN PROGRESS SHOW (Part One)
As I gear up for my upcoming solo show at Edgar Varela’s gallery, opening April 18th, I decided to open up the studio space to art affecionados, to view the creative process as I worked with live figure models. I use this silent dialog between artist, model and viewer as a means to further challenge the painting process by taking risks in my work, in the moment, distancing myself from anything becoming too formulated. There were around 150-200 onlookers, steady throughout this night. Looking at the pictures, I am encouraged by seeing that their eyes are fixed on the work in progress and not on the flesh.
Here are select photos from March Art Walk. More to come…
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Work in Progress
March 18th, 2009 Filed Under Uncategorized
Photo By Michael Crook
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My days as a Superhero
March 17th, 2009 Filed Under Press, Uncategorized
Funny thing happened to me on my way back from the city… While transferring to the G train at Hoyt & Schermerhorn in Brooklyn, New York, I was asked to model as the popular comic book character: Turok. Really! During the mid-’90s while I was drawing and painting my way through art school in NYC, I modeled as the iconic character from Valiant comics. See more pics of my tenure fighting evil doers!
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