ARTIST STATEMENT
My creative life began with music, first in rock and punk bands, then folk. From there, I moved into theatre, performing on stage before turning to set design and illustration for posters and programs. For the past 35 years, my focus has been painting and mixed media.
Creating art is how I most fully experience being alive. I absorb the scenery, mood, and energy around me, then translate those impressions into visual form. Like breathing, the creative process is essential; I can’t hold it in.
I work across a range of media, including acrylic painting, pastels, and both two- and three-dimensional mixed media, as well as Trashion Fashion. For me, the act of creating mirrors the journey of life itself: there is tension and struggle, followed by moments of clarity, and ultimately a sense of resolution and quiet fulfillment when a piece is complete.
About
ROBERT STICKLEY
ARTIST BIO
Born on the border of Scotland and England, Robert Stickley is a long-time Sonoma artist who has spent more than three decades creating in the region. His work spans vibrant pastel landscapes, abstract acrylics, and both two- and three-dimensional mixed media collage. He has received numerous Best of Show and First Place awards.
His work has been exhibited in Sonoma Art Trails and in solo shows at Bump Cellars, Fogline Vineyards Gallery, Sonoma Valley Bank, First Interstate Bank, and the Artisan Gallery in Mill Valley.
In 2014, Robert was selected as Artist in Residence at Pinnacles National Park, a defining experience in his artistic journey. Immersed for two months in the park’s raw and inspiring landscape, he found both solitude and creative renewal.
A distinctive facet of his work is Trashion Fashion. An eight-time participant and award winner, Robert designs and models wearable, three-dimensional collage pieces constructed from found and discarded materials—objects gathered from streets, dumpsters, and the overlooked edges of everyday life. He describes this body of work simply as “Absolute RUBBISH.”
Robert’s work is held in private collections locally and internationally.
