
Robert Pruitt
“Seated Woman with Quantum Headdress,” 2023
“Seated Woman with Quantum Headdress,” 2023
Robert Pruitt
“Seated Woman with Quantum Headdress,” 2023
Conté pastel, coffee wash
84 ³⁄₄" x 60" [HxW] (215.27 x 152.4 cm); 87 ³⁄₄" x 64" x 2" [HxWxD] (222.88 x 162.56 x 5.08 cm) Framed
Inventory #PRU1017
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox
“Seated Woman with Quantum Headdress,” 2023
Conté pastel, coffee wash
84 ³⁄₄" x 60" [HxW] (215.27 x 152.4 cm); 87 ³⁄₄" x 64" x 2" [HxWxD] (222.88 x 162.56 x 5.08 cm) Framed
Inventory #PRU1017
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox

Robert Pruitt
“Standing Woman with Quantum Headdress ,” 2023
“Standing Woman with Quantum Headdress ,” 2023
Robert Pruitt
“Standing Woman with Quantum Headdress ,” 2023
Conté pastel, coffee wash
84 ³⁄₄" x 60" [HxW] (215.27 x 152.4 cm); 87 ³⁄₄" x 64" x 2" [HxWxD] (222.88 x 162.56 x 5.08 cm) Framed
Inventory #PRU1018
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox
“Standing Woman with Quantum Headdress ,” 2023
Conté pastel, coffee wash
84 ³⁄₄" x 60" [HxW] (215.27 x 152.4 cm); 87 ³⁄₄" x 64" x 2" [HxWxD] (222.88 x 162.56 x 5.08 cm) Framed
Inventory #PRU1018
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox

Robert Pruitt
“Couple in a Vacant Lot,” 2022
“Couple in a Vacant Lot,” 2022
Robert Pruitt
“Couple in a Vacant Lot,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1011
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Couple in a Vacant Lot,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1011
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane

Robert Pruitt
“This my new dance move, I just don't know what to call it,” 2022
“This my new dance move, I just don't know what to call it,” 2022
Robert Pruitt
“This my new dance move, I just don't know what to call it,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1013
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“This my new dance move, I just don't know what to call it,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1013
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane

Robert Pruitt
“Love in Outer Space,” 2022
“Love in Outer Space,” 2022
Robert Pruitt
“Love in Outer Space,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1012
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Love in Outer Space,” 2022
Conté, charcoal, pastel, coffee wash on paper
60" x 84" [HxW] (152.4 x 213.36 cm)
Inventory #PRU1012
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane

Robert Pruitt
“Pastor's Study,” 2023
“Pastor's Study,” 2023
Robert Pruitt
“Pastor's Study,” 2023
Conté, charcoal, pastel, acrylic and coffee wash on paper
72" x 72" [HxW] (182.88 x 182.88 cm)
Inventory #PRU1015
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
“Pastor's Study,” 2023
Conté, charcoal, pastel, acrylic and coffee wash on paper
72" x 72" [HxW] (182.88 x 182.88 cm)
Inventory #PRU1015
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane

Robert Pruitt
“Waiting for missus to finish her tea,” 2022
“Waiting for missus to finish her tea,” 2022
Robert Pruitt
“Waiting for missus to finish her tea,” 2022
Charcoal, Conté, pastel, coffee on paper
50" x 38" [HxW] (127 x 96.52 cm)
Inventory #PRU1000
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
“Waiting for missus to finish her tea,” 2022
Charcoal, Conté, pastel, coffee on paper
50" x 38" [HxW] (127 x 96.52 cm)
Inventory #PRU1000
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles

Robert Pruitt
“White Tee Gold Chain,” 2022
“White Tee Gold Chain,” 2022
Robert Pruitt
“White Tee Gold Chain,” 2022
Charcoal, Conté, pastel, coffee on paper
50" x 38" [HxW] (127 x 96.52 cm)
Inventory #PRU1002
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
“White Tee Gold Chain,” 2022
Charcoal, Conté, pastel, coffee on paper
50" x 38" [HxW] (127 x 96.52 cm)
Inventory #PRU1002
Courtesy of the artist, Salon 94, New York and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Education
- Born in 1975, Houston, TX
- 2003
- MFA, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 2000
- 2000
- BA, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2023
- "Goodnight Prometheus," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- 2021
- "To Control the Universe," Salon 94, New York, NY
- 2020
- "Ad Infinitum," Salon 94, New York, NY
- "Guest Minister," Oxbow, Seattle, WA
- 2019
- "The Banner Project," Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
- "The Majesty of Kings Long Dead," Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- 2018
- "Robert Pruitt: Devotion," California African American Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
- 2017
- "Robert Pruitt: Benediction," Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita, KS
- "Robert Pruitt: Planetary Survey: New Drawings," Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- 2016
- "Robert Pruitt: New Work," Visual Arts Center, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
- "Escape Velocity," Robert L. Ringel Gallery, Stewart Center Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- 2015
- "Robert Pruitt: Flight Risk," Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, CA
- "The Mosaic Project: Robert Pruitt & Shadra Strickland," Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Lancaster, PA
- "Omohle Ntsudu Omnyama," Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2013
- "Fantastic Sagas," Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, CA
- "Robert Pruitt: Women," Studio Museum in Harlem, New York, NY
- 2012
- "Robert Pruitt," Bakersfield Museum of Art, Bakersfield, CA
- 2011
- "The Souls of Black Folk," McKinney Art Center, Dallas, TX
- "New American Voices," Fabric Workshop Museum, Philadelphia, PA
- "Them From After the End of the World," Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, CA
- 2010
- "The Forever People," Hooks-Epstein Gallery, Houston, TX
- 2008
- "Two Tears in a Bucket: Considering The Alcubierre Metric," Mary Goldman Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
- 2006
- "Quiet as Kept," Clementine Gallery, New York, NY
- "Perspectives 154: Robert Pruitt," Contemporary Art Museum, Houston, TX
- 2004
- "I call my brother sun because he shines like one," Clementine Gallery, New York, NY
- "Cold Kuts and Fresh Beef," Galveston Art Center, Galveston, TX
- "Round 18 of Artists’ Installations," Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2023
- "A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration," California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA; traveled from the Mississippi Museum of Art, Baltimore Museum of Art and Brooklyn Museum
- "The Book of HOV: A celebration of the life and work of Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter," The Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY
- "Perpetual Portrait," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- 2022
- "In Blackest Shade, In Darkest Light," Curated by Patrick Earl Hammie, Giertz Gallery at Parkland College, Champaign, IL
- "Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield South Carolina," The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY; traveling to The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MA
- "Us, We, Them," Worcester Art Museum, Worcrester, MA
- "A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration," Mississippi Museum of Art; traveling to: Baltimore Museum of Art
- 2021
- "Assembly: New Acquisitions by Contemporary Black Artists," Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX
- 2019
- "Perennial," Koplin Del Rio (Pop-up exhibition), Los Angeles, CA
- "Men of Steel, Women of Wonder: Modern American Heroes in Contemporary Times," Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR
- "Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth, Exhibition," coordinated by the Smithsonian Institution, the 10-city national tour opened at the California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA, April/May
- "Black Refractions | Highlights from the Studio Museum in Harlem," The Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco, CA (January 15 – April 14, 2019); Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston, SC (May 24 – August 18, 2019);Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, MI (September 13 – December 8, 2019); Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, MA (January 17 – April 12, 2020); Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA (May 9 – August 2, 2020); Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake City, UT (August 28 – December 13, 2020)
- 2018
- "People Get Ready | Building A Contemporary Collection," Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC
- "WOMAN," Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- "We The People," Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Mesa, AZ
- "Out of Africa," Art Village Gallery, Memphis, TN
- "MLK50: Beyond the Balcony," Art Village Gallery, Memphis, TN
- 2017
- "LIBERTY.," Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- "Anachronism and Liberation," Asteroid Tiger Strike, Philadelphia, PA
- "Z is for Zigzag: Directions Around Northern Manhattan," Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling, New York, NY
- "Impressions: African American Artists and Their Connection to African Art," Mesa College Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
- "How Far Have We Come," Koplin Del Rio, on Artsy (online exhibition)
- 2016
- "Indivisible: Spirits in the Material World," curated by William Cordova, Prizm Art Fair, Miami, FL
- "Time + Space: Futures, Bemis Center, Omaha, NE IDENTITY," Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- 2015
- "New Editions," Tamarind Institue, Univeristy of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- 2013
- "Wunderkammer: Miniatures and Curiosities," Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, CA
- "The Shadows Took Shape," The Studio Museum Harlem, New York, NY
- 2012
- "Self Possessed: Examining Identity in the 21st Century," Koplin Del Rio, Culver City, CA
- "HX8(Houston Times Eight)," Station Museum of Contemporary Art, Houston, TX
- 2011
- "Stargazers, Elizabeth Catlett in conversation with 21 contemporary artists," Bronx Museum, Bronx, NY
- 2010
- "Hangin’ Together," Koplin Del Rio (Guest Curated by Kerry James Marshall), Culver City, CA
- 2008
- "Black Is, Black Ain't" Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- "S & M: Shrines and Masquerades in Cosmopolitan Times," NYU, Steinhardt Galleries, New York, NY
- "New Works: 07.1," curated by Debra Singer, Artpace, San Antonio, TX
- "Sweet Sweetback’s Badasssss Song," Von Lintel Gallery, New York, NY
- 2006
- Whitney Biennial Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
- "Black Alphabet," The Zacheta Gallery, Warsaw, Poland Frequency, The Studio Museum, New York, NY
- "The Texas Prize Exhibition," ArtHouse, Austin, TX (catalog) Texas Artadia Recipients, Diverseworks, Houston, TX
- "Art on Paper," The Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, NC
- "Black Alphabet," the Zacheta Gallery, Warsaw, Poland
- "Intersections: Shifting Identity in Contemporary Art," John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI
- "Interstellar Low Ways," Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
- "...but I was cool," Aljira Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ
- 2005
- "Double Consciousness: Black Conceptual Art Since 1970," Contemporary Art Museum Houston, Houston, TX
- 2004
- "Farm to Market," ArtPace, San Antonio, TX
- "Texas Prime," Diverseworks, Houston, TX
- "SuperSalon," Samson Projects, Boston, MA
- 2003
- "Miniatures," Hooks-Epstein Gallery, Houston, TX
- "The Big Show, (first prize)," Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
- "Splat Boom Pow! The Influence of Cartoons in Contemporary Art," Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, TX
- "Come Forward: Emerging Art in Texas," Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
- 2002
- "Soul Sonic Lustre Silk," Houston Community College, Houston, TX
- "The Big Show," Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
- "Process," Creative Research Lab, Austin, TX
- "The Debt," The Old School, Austin, TX
- "22 to Watch: New Art in Austin," Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
- "Safety Gear," D Ramos Studios, Austin, TX
Curatorial Projects
- 2020
- Drawing the Ghost, Koplin Del Rio, Seattle, WA
- 2013
- Coming Through the Gap in the Mountain on an Elephant, University Museum of Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
- 2012
- Stacks, Art League Houston, Houston, TX
Bibliography
- 2023
- Valentine, Victoria L. "Art & Diplomacy: U.S. Dept. of State Medal of Arts Bestowed on Robert Pruitt and Hank Willis Thomas at White House Ceremony," CultureType, September 17 (Link)
- Dozier, Ayanna. "At the Brooklyn Museum, 12 Artists Poignantly Capture the Legacies of the Great Migration," Artsy, March 7 (Link)
- Simblist, Noah. "In Abstract, Haunting, and Poignant Works, Artists Reflect on the Great Migration in a Major Exhibition," Art in America, January 30 (Link)
- 2022
- Solly, Meilan. "See Stunning Portraits of Ava DuVernay, José Andrés and the Williams Sisters," The Smithsonian Magazine, November 16 (Link)
- Sheets, Hilarie M. "Behind 3 Champions’ Smithsonian Portraits," The New York Times, November 1 (Link)
- 2021
- Valentine, Victoria L. "On View: 'Robert Pruitt: To Control the Universe' at Salon 94 in New York," Culture Type, September 29 (Link)
- 2020
- Leung, Gabrielle. "Artists of Color Reflect on Own Identities in "Portraiture: A Private Room"," HyperArt, June 4
- “5 artists tell us the hardships—and benefits—of creating in isolation,” Document, June 12
- 2018
- “Best of 2018: Our Top 15 Los Angeles Art Shows,” Hyperallergic, December 18
- Caldwell, Ellen C., “Robert Pruitt: Devotion,” Riot Material, December 17
- Gerwin, Daniel, “The Potent Realism of Robert Pruitt’s Black Portraiture,” Hyperallergic, December 4
- “Robert Pruitt’s ‘Devotion’ at California African American Museum,” Blouin Artinfo, November
- “Robert Pruitt”, Wall Street International Magazine, October 26
- Little, Colony. "Pay Attention to the Loaded Details in Artist Robert Pruitt’s Powerful Images of Devotion," ArtNet New, October 12 (Link)
- Onyewuenyi, Ikechukwu, “‘Robert Pruitt: Devotion’ Preview,” Artforum, September
- Drew, Kimberly, “Tina Knowles Lawson on Her Black Art Collection, Beyoncé, Solange, and Creativity”, Vanity Fair, September
- Cotter, Holland, “A Good Year for Younger Artists, Immigrant Citizens and Outrage”, New York Times, September 6
- Howe, Brian, “In Contemporary Showcase People Get Ready, The Nasher’s Progressive Vision Snaps into Blazing Focus”, Indy Weekly, September 6
- McGrath, Katherine, “Tina Knowles Lawson on Why Beyoncé and Solange Grew Up Surrounded by an Incredible Art Collection”, Architectural Digest, August 6
- 2017
- Edge, Lisa, “Celestial Figures: Robert Pruitt’s portraits disrupt media narratives of black lives”, Real Change, March 1
- Breslaw, Cathy, “IMPRESSIONS: AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS AND THEIR CONNECTION TO AFRICAN ART”, Vanguard Culture, February 8
- “San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery Presents IMPRESSIONS”, Broadway World, San Diego, February 2
- 2016
- Agresta, Michael, “Ward Matters: Robert Pruitt’s Art Vividly Portrays the Lives and Dreams of the People who have long called Houston’s Rapidly Gentrifying Neighborhoods Home”, Texas Monthly, December
- Mader, Elisa, “IDENTITY: A Visual Artifact”, AEQAI, March
- 2015
- Gerwin, Daniel, “Drawing an Afro-Future with the Past and Present”, HYPERALLERGIC, Dec. 1
- Mizota, Sharon, “Critic’s Choice: Robert Pruitt: Futuristic portraits gain a real edge”, LA Times, Nov. 10
- Will, Rachel, “Robert Pruitt’s New Works Juxtapose African Culture and Space Objects”, Artsy, Nov. 1
- Word, Tanekeya, “Interview: Robert Pruitt”, Saint Heron, March 16
- 2013
- Rosenberg, Karen, Women Inspired to Mix and Match, "Drawings by Robert Pruitt at the Studio Museum in Harlem," The New York Times, August 8
- Cembelast, Robin, "Reinventing the African American Portrait," ARTnews, August 1
- Ulysse, Gina Athena, "Immeasurable Inspiration: On Robert Pruitt’s Women," The Huffington Post, July 26
- Roffino, Sara, "25 Questions for Afrofuturist Artist Robert Pruitt," BLOUINARTINFO International, July 18
- 2012
- Boyd, Robert, "Robert Pruitt: This Rejection of the Conqueror at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas," Glasstire, February 5
- 2011
- Mizota, Sharon, "Robert Pruitt," ARTNews Magazine, Art Reviews, November
- Ollman, Leah, "Robert Pruitt at Koplin Del Rio," Los Angeles Times, Art Reviews, August 19
- 2007
- Gupta, Anjali. "Glenn Kaino + Robert Pruitt + Katja Strunz," Art Papers, May/June
- Goodard, Dan R. "Caught Between Two Cultures," San Antonio Express-News, Sunday, April 22
- Salmon, Lori. "Robert Pruitt," ArtUS, March-April
- Wolff, Elaine. "The Art Capades: We Shall (Eventually) Overcome (One Way Or Another)," San Antonio Current, March 22-April 3
- Gajkowski-Hill, Sarah. "Perspectives 154: Robert Pruitt," Arts Houston Magazine, February
- 2006
- "Goings On About Town: Robert Pruitt," New Yorker, December 25
- Baldwin, Rosecrans. "Quiet As Kept, Interview with Robert Pruitt," The Morning News, December
- Cotter, Holland. "The Collective Conscious," The New York Times, (as part of Otabenga Jones and Associates) Sunday, March 5
- Golden, Thelma, and Christine Kim. "Frequency," The Studio Museum of Harlem, New York
- Iles, Chrissy, and Phillip Verne. "Day for a Night, Whitney Biennial," Whitney Museum of Art
- Kerr, Merrily. Otabenga Jones and Associates, "Symmetrical Patterns of Def," Time Out New York, (as part of Otabenga Jones and Associates), February 2-8
- 2005
- Cassel Oliver, Valerie, and Franklin Sirmans. "Double Consciousness, Black Conceptual Art Since 1970, Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston"
- 2004
- Schwendener, Martha. "Robert Pruitt at Clementine," Time Out New York, August 5-12
- "Robert Pruitt at Clementine," The New Yorker, August 9 & 16
- Psyllos, Steven. "Robert Pruitt," New York Press, August 3
- 2003
- Weaver, Suzanne. et al. "Come Forward: Emerging Art in Texas," Dallas Museum of Art
Awards, Fellowships, and Grants
- 2014
- Idea Fund Grant
- 2013
- Joan Mitchell Foundation Artist Grant
- William H. Johnson Prize
- 2009
- Art Matters Travel Grant
- 2007
- Creative Capital Foundation grant (Otabenga Jones)
- Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation fellowship grant
- 2004
- Artadia Artist Grant
- 1999
- The Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund award, Dallas Museum of Art
- Emerging Artist Grant, Cultural Arts Council of Houston
Residencies
- 2016
- Joan Mitchell Foundation Artist in Residence, New Orleans, LA
- 2015
- Tamarind Institute, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Omaha, NE
- Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 2014
- Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, NM
- 2007
- ArtPace Residency, San Antonio, TX
- 2002
- Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME
Public Collections
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
- The Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, TX
- Arkansas Arts Center, Little Rock, AR
- Art Museum of Greater Lafayette at Purdue University, Lafayette, IN
- Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX
- Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX
- Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
- Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University, Durham, NC
- Portland Museum of Art, Portland, OR
- Studio Museum of Harlem, NY
- University Museum, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX
- US Embassy, Zimbabwe
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, VA