ROBERT ABRIOLA
ARTIST + DESIGNER + CURATOR
Abriola is a classically trained artist and worked for over 30+ years as a designer and art director at various agencies in New York City and Connecticut. He is best known for his work in the music industry as the former Creative Director at EMI Music North America where he created award winning cover art for many artists such as The Kinks, Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Joan Baez, Peabo Bryson, Melissa Manchester, Liza Minelli, and Bernadette Peters, to name a few. Abriola’s latest style of fine art from his ‘Music Icon’ Pop Art series is a culmination from his 30+ years as a designer, art director, fine artist, and music industry creative director.
This new series fuses art with creative strategy and brings his visions and collaborations from his music experiences to life. Each music icon piece is a one of a kind creation and begins from a hand-made wood panel developed with multiple layers of image art, acrylic and metallic paint, acrylic poly, diamond dust, and glitter. From a distance these works are depictions of the music icon, but up close they are complicated, layered and multi-dimensional.
Abriola creates the variety of his artwork in his home barn studio and at his second studio location at the Oakwood Estate as a member of the St Philip Artists Guild in Fairfield County Connecticut. His work can be seen in many gallery exhibitions and juried shows throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and West Coast regions.
Educational Background
Bachelor of Science – Studio Art
Southern CT State University, New Haven, CT
Yale University, New Haven, CT (Internship)
School of Visual Arts, New York, NY (Advanced Studies)
Exhibitions
2020 January: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Play 3.0” – Exhibition
2019 October: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Pop Up Show” – Exhibition
2019 April: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Transformation” – Exhibition
2019 March: John Varvatos, Costa Mesa CA, “Music Icon Series” – Solo Exhibition
2018 December: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Play 2.0” – Exhibition
2018 October: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Celebrating Life” – Exhibition
2018 August: Arts District, Norwalk, CT, “First Friday – Pop Up Show” – Exhibition
2018 July: Westport Fine Arts Festival, Westport, CT – Exhibition
2018 May – September: Sheffield Island Lighthouse Art Gallery, Norwalk, CT – Summer Exhibition
2018 April: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Transformation” – Exhibition
2018 February: ART Works Gallery on the Green, Norwalk, CT, “Connections” – Exhibition 2017 December: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Play 1.0” – Exhibition
2017 October: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Identity” – Exhibition
2017 August: Saratoga Arts Celebration, Saratoga Springs, NY – Exhibition
2017 July: Westport Fine Arts Festival, Westport, CT – Exhibition
2017 May: St Philip Artists Guild, Norwalk, CT, “Harmony & Dissonance” Exhibition
2017 March: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, Artist Showcase – Exhibition
2016 September: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, New Works – Exhibition
2016 July: Stamford Arts Festival, Norwalk, CT – Exhibition
2016 June: Norwalk Arts Festival, Norwalk, CT – Exhibition
2016 May – June: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, The Connecticut Affordable Art Fair – Exhibition
2016 April: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, – Spring Exhibition
2015 November: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, The Connecticut Affordable Art Fair – Exhibition
2015 May: The Avenue Gallery, Norwalk, CT, Spring Fling – Exhibition
2011–2013 May: SunFest Art District, West Palm Beach, FL – Exhibiting Artist
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