Robert Hyatt Art
Robert Hyatt grew up in Northwest Denver and was formally educated at the University of Colorado, obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, where he also attended graduate studies in fine arts.
Hyatt was adopted. After years of searching for his biological family, Hyatt eventually discovered the identity of his biological parents. To his astonishment he found that his bio-father was the legendary Neal Cassady. Cassady was the social and cultural revolutionary who’s writing style was adapted by Jack Kerouac in his famous novel On the Road. Cassady is considered by most historians to be the primary muse for the American Beat Movement of the 1950's.
photo taken by Dave Beckett
Robert Hyatt is like his biological father in that he is a non-conformist (in fact all four of his children share this characteristic – one daughter is helping toddlers suffering from life threatening spinal deformities, while the others are teachers, artists, writers, and musicians).
Hyatt’s countercultural spirit has evolved ---from a teen with anti-authority, sometimes self-destructive tendencies, to that of a quiet, intellectually-oriented senior with a stated purpose to create abstract visual art.
Hyatt was always a visual artist, winning awards in high school and college. He had his first “one man show” while still a student at the University of Colorado. During his varied career, Hyatt also worked as a therapist and counselor helping children and adults experiencing the adversity of mental health illness and addiction.
However, producing quality visual art has always been his passion. Over the length of his fine arts career, Hyatt has sold his work from 15 art galleries, has obtained two sculpture commissions and a portrait commission, has appeared in various Colorado publications (including one national arts magazine) highlighting his artistic achievements, and showed his work for two consecutive years in the 1980’s at the Denver Art Museum.
Hyatt has enjoyed studying abstract art since his time in university. He has worked in several disciplines and mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, serigraphy, and poly-resin jewelry.
The "Palettes" series is a revamping of a project that Hyatt was focused on in the 1980's. The high quality photographs are of polyresin castings, each laboriously crafted to create colorful, abstract and expressionistic compositions.
The “Combinatorics” series has been created over the last several years. As the name implies, these compositions are studies of combinations of objects/elements within a finite set. Hyatt’s use of various types of pens and inks on OSB (Oriented Strand Board), in his “Combinatorics” series, is a departure from traditional pen on board works, demonstrating a unique originality.
Robert wrote a collection of short stories about his life growing up as the adopted son of Neal Cassady in 1950's -- 1970's Denver.
"Beat Bastard: An Adoptee's Portfolio" is available for purchase at Amazon/Kindle (click logo):
Events
We are pleased to announce that one of Robert Hyatt's Combinatorics works has been chosen for Foothills Art Center's "Member's Show," which is happening through April 22nd, 2018. Check out their website for details:
http://www.foothillsartcenter.org
***[Show run concluded] On Friday, May 5th, starting at 5pm at the Vertigo Gallery (960 Santa Fe Drive, Denver), Hyatt will be showing art from his 'Combinatorics' series, as well as a selection of photographic collages. Hyatt's showing is associated with Santa Fe Drive's "First Friday Art Walk". Hyatt's memoir, "Beat Bastard: An Adoptee's Portfolio" will also be available for sale.
Press Releases
A feature article about Robert and his relation to Neal Cassady was published by Denver's Westword Magazine.
http://www.westword.com/arts/neal-cassadys-denver-legacy-includes-a-secret-son-robert-hyatt-8769924