“Jimm Roberts: Southernmost Art & Literary Portraits” at the OMA

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

While Florida is primarily known for theme parks, beaches and as the vacation capital of the world, the Sunshine State also has an extensive creative history that, I would wager, even most native Floridians don’t know much about. In fact, Florida has been the permanent or seasonal home to a myriad of important and influential creatives for more than a century.

For a glimpse into this uniquely artistic and cultural history, be sure to check out the Jimm Roberts exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art. On view through October 30, 2022, this exhibit consists of dozens and dozens of black and white portraits taken by Orlando freelance photographer, Jimm Roberts, and features literary luminaries and artistic avant-gardes of all sorts.

The exhibit is curated very thoughtfully and includes rare photographer proofs and letters and other correspondence from Roberts’ sitters. Didactics and museum labels provided suggest that Roberts made a habit of asking his sitters about their memories of their very first visits to Florida and the responses range from hilarious to heartfelt. Including such personal experiences help to humanize the figures depicted and remind the viewers that they are all simply everyday folks despite their awards and recognitions.

My favorite aspect of this exhibition was the decision of the curatorial team to include pieces of artwork from the museum’s permanent collection alongside the photographs of the artists. This means visitors will see works by James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein, among others, next to their portraits. The result is a surprisingly dynamic exhibition that stays with the visitor long after leaving the museum.

James Rosenquist
Robert Rauschenberg
Roy Lichtenstein

For more information on Jimm Roberts: Southernmost Art & Literary Portraits at the OMA, please visit…

https://omart.org/exhibitions/jimm_roberts_southernmost_art_and_literary_portraits/

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I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.