Usually when you think of museum art, you think of Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, or maybe even Andy Worhol comes to mind… but certainly not Bob Ross. Sure he is synonymous with “painting” but not “art.” He was famous for his afro, and for creating and hosting The Joy of Painting tv show, which made him more of a pop culture icon, and in later years, a meme.
Although his contributions to contemporary art were mostly seen as instructional, his creative philosophy was a bit ahead of its time. His philosophy reflected the shift away from “overly serious art and cerebral paintings”, and the “rise of optimism and sincerity in art.” Finally Bob is getting some respect for this, on a museum level, for the first time ever.
Four of Bob’s paintings are part of an exhibit called “New Age, New Age: Strategies for Survival” at the DePaul Art Museum in Chicago. The show highlights contemporary works that explore metaphysical practices, nature, self-realization, and political resistance.
Sadly, Bob died in 2005, and will never get to see his work finally in a museum… but at least he’s finally being recognized as an artist and not just a pop culture icon on novelty tee shirts.
Don’t you miss his soothing voice?? “There’s a happy tree.”