The New Jersey State Museum is set to open a new exhibition showcasing the work of artist Robert Duran, beginning October 19. The exhibition, which will run until March 16, 2025, provides an opportunity for visitors to explore Duran's artistic journey through painting, drawing, and watercolor from approximately 1967 to the late 1990s. This event is supported by Karma Gallery and additional contributions from the New Jersey State Museum Foundation.
Robert Duran was born in Salinas, California in 1938 and moved to New York in the early 1960s after spending time in San Francisco. He became part of the art scene linked with Bykert Gallery. Initially a sculptor, Duran's paintings offer an alternative perspective to the hard-edge geometric abstraction and minimalism that were prevalent during the '60s and '70s in New York. His work features acrylic wash surfaces and "color shapes," described by critic Carter Ratcliff as resembling petroglyphs or having cartographic qualities.
Despite his success in New York's art world, Duran relocated with his family to Hillsdale, New Jersey around 1980. There he continued developing his painting style privately. Much about Duran remains known only through exhibition records and anecdotes from those who knew him.
Sarah B. Vogelman, Acting Curator of Fine Art at the museum, discovered Robert Duran while researching lesser-known artists from New Jersey. She noted being drawn to his unique approach to form and color: “His experimental and playful approach to both acrylic paint and watercolor set him apart from contemporaries of his era.” Vogelman emphasized that based on the quality of his work alone, "Duran deserves be part of that art history."
The museum aims to reintroduce this artist primarily through his paintings and works on paper.
The New Jersey State Museum operates Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm and is closed on state holidays. General admission is free. For more information visit their website or follow them on social media platforms like Facebook (@NJStateMuseum) or Instagram (nj_statemuseum).
