Robert Nava, Water Heart Cat, 2020, Acrylic and grease pencil on canvas, 84" × 72" (213.4 cm × 182.9 cm) © Robert Nava Robert Nava Photography by Matteo Mobilio Details:b. 1985, East Chicago, INConnect: (opens in a new window) robnava.comPace Publications: (opens in a new window) Shop Now Read More Driven by his desire to “make new myths” responsive to our times, Robert Nava has created a chimerical world of metamorphic creatures, drawing inspiration from sources as disparate as prehistoric cave paintings, Egyptian art, and cartoons.Rendered through a raw, energetic mixing of spray paint, acrylics, and grease pencil, his large-scale paintings of fantastical beasts exude a playful candidness that defies the pretensions of high art and invites viewers to reconnect with the unbridled imagination of their childhoods.To develop his uncompromisingly personal style, Nava first dispensed with the rules and conventional attitudes that he had learned while obtaining his MFA at Yale University—an attitude that aligns him with the irreverent “bad” painting first theorized in 1978 by the New Museum’s founding curator Marcia Tucker. Nonetheless, Nava’s hybrid monsters, which range from the dragon-like to the angelic, are thought-out composites that the artist continuously reworks in his sketchbooks. Drawing, in fact, constitutes the bedrock of his practice, a daily discipline of invention.Often created to the vitalizing beat of techno music, his paintings conjure a realm awash in magic and possibility, where beings are always seemingly on the verge of transmogrification. Though offering viewers respite from the more cynical and dystopian aspects of today’s world, his paintings do not, however, veer into escapism. Violence and destruction are continuously implied by the ferocity of his depicted animals and the iconoclastic nature of his graffiti-like markings, which build on the gesturalism of Cy Twombly and Jean-Michel Basquiat. His work thus reacquaints viewers with an almost childlike capacity for fantasy and creativity, while offering a meditation on the loss of innocence and its recuperation.Nava's work can be found in the collection of Musée d'Art Moderne, Paris, France; Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois; Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Florida; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, California; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas; The Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio; Orange County Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CA, and Zuzeum Art Center, Riga, Latvia. His art has been exhibited in various solo exhibitions both domestically and abroad, including Bloodsport (2022) at Night Gallery, Robert Nava (2021) at Pace East Hampton, Robert Nava (2021) at Pace Palm Beach, Robert Nava: Angels (2021) at Vito Schnabel Gallery, and Robert Nava (2020) at Sorry We're Closed in Brussels. Read More Robert Nava, Lightning Keeper, Kiss of Death, 2020, acrylic and grease pencil on canvas, 72" × 72" (182.9 cm × 182.9 cm) Learn More Close modal View Previous View Next Carousel slide 0 Carousel slide 1 Carousel slide 2 Robert Nava Lightning Keeper, Kiss of Death 2020 acrylic and grease pencil on canvas 72" × 72" (182.9 cm × 182.9 cm) Inquire How can we reach you? First Name* Last Name* Email* Phone Inquiry Message Have you purchased from Pace before?* Yes No Submit Inquiry Or go back Robert Nava, Splash Cloud, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 72" × 72" (182.9 cm × 182.9 cm) Learn More Close modal View Previous View Next Carousel slide 0 Carousel slide 1 Carousel slide 2 Carousel slide 3 Robert Nava Splash Cloud 2020 acrylic on canvas 72" × 72" (182.9 cm × 182.9 cm) Inquire How can we reach you? First Name* Last Name* Email* Phone Inquiry Message Have you purchased from Pace before?* Yes No Submit Inquiry Or go back Robert Nava, Lightning Wolf Skull Rider, 2020, acrylic and grease pencil on canvas, 72" × 68" (182.9 cm × 172.7 cm) Learn More Close modal View Previous View Next Carousel slide 0 Carousel slide 1 Carousel slide 2 Robert Nava Lightning Wolf Skull Rider 2020 acrylic and grease pencil on canvas 72" × 68" (182.9 cm × 172.7 cm) Inquire How can we reach you? First Name* Last Name* Email* Phone Inquiry Message Have you purchased from Pace before?* Yes No Submit Inquiry Or go back Exhibitions View All Past Robert Nava Tornado Rose Sep 5 – Oct 21, 2023 Seoul Past Robert Nava Thunderbolt Disco May 13 – Jun 25, 2022 London Past Robert Nava Aug 12 – Aug 29, 2021 East Hampton Past Robert Nava Jan 6 – Jan 17, 2021 Palm Beach Journal View All Films Explore Robert Nava's "Tornado Rose" in Seoul Sep 22, 2023 Pace Publishing Robert Nava Aug 16, 2022 News Robert Nava Joins Pace Gallery Nov 30, 2020 One-Artist Exhibitions Group Exhibitions Public Collections Bibliography Books Periodicals Close One-Artist Exhibitions Robert Nava One-Artist Exhibitions.pdf DatesBorn 1985, East Chicago, IndianaLives and works in Brooklyn, New YorkEducation2011, M.F.A. in Painting, Yale University School of Art, New Haven, Connecticut2008, B.A. in Fine Art, Indiana University Northwest, Gary2023Robert Nava: Tornado Rose, Pace Gallery, Seoul, September 5–October 21, 2023.Robert Nava: Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg, Hall Art Foundation, Derneburg, Germany, June 17–November 12, 2023.Robert Nava: Mirror Quest, Kunstmuseum Schloss Derneburg – Hall Art Foundation, Derneburg, Germany, June 17–November 12, 2023.2022Robert Nava: STAND, The Watermill Center, Watermill, New York, July 29–September 7, 2022.Robert Nava: Thunderbolt Disco, Pace Gallery, London, May 13–June 25, 2022. (Catalogue)Robert Nava: Bloodsport, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, February 19–March 26, 2022.2021Robert Nava, Pace Gallery, East Hampton, New York, August 12–29, 2021.Robert Nava: Angels, Vito Schnabel Gallery, New York, February 25–April 17, 2021.Robert Nava, Pace Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, January 6–17, 2021.2020Robert Nava, Sorry We’re Closed, Brussels, Belgium, October 24–December 19, 2020.2019Robert Nava: Mythologies, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark, September 21–October 19, 2019.Robert Nava: Vs (Versus), Night Gallery, Los Angeles, July 20–August 17, 2019.2018Robert Nava, Sorry We’re Closed, Brussels, Belgium, June 7–July 14, 2018.2015Robert Nava: I’m Rubber, You’re Glue, ThreeFourThreeFour Gallery, New York, December 12, 2015–January 9, 2016. Group Exhibitions Robert Nava Group Exhibitions.pdf 2024Animal Watch, Gallery 125 Newbury, New York, January 26-March 2, 2024.2023PRESENT '23: Building the Scantland Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, June 8, 2023–Spring 2024.2022Boil, Toil + Trouble, organized by Art in Common, 50 NE 40th Street, Miami, November 28–December 14, 2022.Multiple Sights: The Tenth Anniversary of the Long Museum, Long Museum (West Bund), Shanghai, November 13, 2022–February 5, 2023.Come As You Are, Stony Island Arts Bank, Chicago, November 10–December 11, 2022.2021Sunburst, Various Small Fires x Night Gallery, Seoul, South Korea, July 31–September 11, 2021.2020Nine to Know, Ruttkowski 68, Paris, January 25–February 23, 2020.2019Superzoom, Superszoomart, Paris, October 15–21, 2019.Punch, Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, Los Angeles, California, June 29–August 29, 2019.Malmö Sessions, Carl Kostyal, Sweden, May 18–June 16, 2019.2018Mutants, 132 Perry Street, New York, 2018.Robert Nava and Lance De Los Reyes: Guardians of the Secret, Ober Gallery, Kent, Connecticut, 2018.MINE1, V1 Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 26–November 24, 2018.Person, Place, or Thing, Safe Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, October 11–December 15, 2018.NY Now, Allouche Benias Gallery, Athens, Greece, September 27–December 31, 2018.Paper Trails, Allouche Gallery, New York, September 6–October 7, 2018.Paradise, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, California, July 13–August 18, 2018.Like No Other, Annarumma Gallery, Naples, Italy, June 1–30, 2018.Age Less World, Deli Grocery Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, May 18–30, 2018.2017Forces of Nature, Ober Gallery, Kent, Connecticut, 2017.Gas Medicine, Alexander’s Garage, Brooklyn, New York, 2017.We Are the Ones, CGK Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2017.Shindig, YUI Gallery, New York, August 5–11, 2017.Say Yes, Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, April 7–July 14, 2017.2016I Want to Believe, Bomb Pop-Up, New York, 2016.Plus One, Trestle Contemporary Art Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, November 19, 2016–January 6, 2017.The Aging Coconut, Roberto Paradise Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 2–July 17, 2016.2015Instant Vacation, Trestle Projects, Brooklyn, New York, July 26–September 3, 2015.Mixtape 2, M. David Studio, Brooklyn, New York, 2015.Art Shop II, 99 Cent Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, May 8–10, 2015.2014Broke Baroque, Sanctuary Projects, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2014Dead Ends, Heliopolis, Brooklyn, New York, 2014.2013Transitions Vol. 1 (Like an Indefinite State), Associated Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, November 16–December 1, 2013.Ex-ile, El Rincon Social, Houston, Texas, April 6–7, 2013.2012Pushing Painting Paradigms, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 2012.2009A Proposito: Pan Latino Dialogues, John Slade Ely House, New Haven, Connecticut, 2009. Public Collections Robert Nava Public Collections Art Institute of Chicago, IllinoisColumbus Museum of Art, OhioDangxia Art Space, BeijingThe Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, FloridaLos Angeles County Museum of Art, CaliforniaMusée d'Art Modern, ParisMuseum of Contemporary Art San Diego, CaliforniaThe Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonNorton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FloridaOrange County Museum of Art, Santa Ana, CaliforniaPerez Art Museum Miami, FloridaZuzeum Art Center, Riga, Latvia Bibliography: Books Robert Nava Bibliography: Books 2022Robert Nava: Thunderbolt Disco (exhibition catalogue). Text by Jason Rosenfeld, interview with Huma Bhabha. London: Pace Gallery, 2022.2021Robert Nava: Angels (exhibition catalogue). Text by Joachim Pissarro. New York: Vito Schnabel Gallery, 2021. Bibliography: Periodicals Robert Nava Periodicals.pdf 2023“An exhibition that will soothe the disappointment of the end of the art fair” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Naver, 12 September 2023. https://post.naver.com/viewer/postView.naver?volumeNo=36562546&memberNo=24216069“Price Check! Here’s What Sold and for How Much at Frieze New York 2023.” Artnet News, 26 May 2023. https://news.artnet.com/news-pro/price-check-frieze-new-york-2023-2305520Nava, Robert. “Robert Nava: Of Monster Battles, Laser Eyes and Burning Castles.” Interview with Marie-Louise Schmidlin. METAL Magazine, 28 April 2023. https://metalmagazine.eu/en/post/interview/robert-nava“Robert Nava: Tornado Rose” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Artbava, 6 September 2023. https://www.artbava.com/exhibit/robert-nava-tornado-rose/Shaw, Anny. “Has New York’s hot art market finally cooled?” The Art Newspaper, 19 May 2023. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/05/19/has-new-yorks-hot-art-market-finally-cooled2022“ARTCELS offers Millenial art collectors a chance to invest in ‘Masters’ $1.35m portfolio” (HOFA Gallery exhibition preview). Block Telegraph, 9 February 2022. https://blocktelegraph.io/artcels-offers-millennial-art-collectors-a-chance-to-invest-in-masters-1-35m-portfolio/.Dozier, Ayanna. “10 Standout Lots Sold in Artsy Auctions in 2022.” Artsy, 15 December 2022. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-standout-lots-sold-artsy-auctions-2022Duffy, Owen. “What’s the Worst Painting of All Time?” ArtReview, 7 December 2022. https://artreview.com/what-is-the-worst-painting-of-all-time-robert-nava/Fisher, Simon. “Robert Nava's Explosive Debut With Pace Gallery” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Ocula, 9 June 2022. https://ocula.com/advisory/picks/robert-nava-pace-gallery/Ghassemitari, Shawn. “Robert Nava Explores Tension and Harmony in "Bloodsport" (Night Gallery exhibition review). Hypebeast, 10 February 2022. https://hypebeast.com/2022/2/robert-nava-bloodsport-night-gallery-preview.Ghassemitari, Shawn. “Robert Nava Takes Over Pace London in New Exhibition” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Hypebeast, 31 May 2022. https://hypebeast.com/2022/5/pace-gallery-robert-nava-thunderbolt-disco-exhibitionGoldman Kay, Jonah. "Robert Nava at Pace | London" (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Artforum, 20 June 2022. https://www.artforum.com/picks/robert-nava-88754Gregory, Elizabeth. “Mayfair Art Weekend: Everything there is to see and do” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Evening Standard, 17 June 2022. https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/exhibitions/mayfair-art-weekend-what-to-see-exhibitions-london-b1005193.htmlHamer, Katy. “THE WATERMILL CENTER’S SUMMER BENEFIT AND ARTIST RESIDENCY.” Cool Hunting, 11 August 2022. https://coolhunting.com/culture/the-watermill-centers-summer-benefit-and-artist-residency/Kay, Jonah Goldman. “Critics’ Picks: Robert Nava.” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Artforum, 22 June 2022. https://www.artforum.com/picks/robert-nava-88754“London Art Exhibitions to See” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Ocula, 23 May 2022. https://ocula.com/advisory/perspectives/exhibition-highlights-in-london/Nava, Robert. “On Not Worrying What People Think of Your Work.” Interview with Katy Diamond Hamer. The Creative Independent, 24 October 2022. https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/visual-artist-robert-nava-on-not-worrying-about-what-people-think-of-your-work/Nissim, Clara. "Thunderbolt Disco | Robert Nava" (Pace Gallery exhibition review). this is tomorrow, 12 June 2022. http://thisistomorrow.info/articles/thunderbolt-disco-robert-nava“PACE – Robert Nava: Thunderbolt Disco” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). London Paint Club, 9 May 2022. https://londonpaintclub.com/2022/05/09/pace-robert-nava-thunderbolt-disco/.“Robert Nava – Thunderbolt Disco” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). 1983 Magazine, 16 June 2022. https://1883magazine.com/robert-nava-thunderbolt-disco/“17 Artists Whose Works Set Records at London’s Frieze Week Auctions.” Artsy, 20 October 2022. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-17-artists-works-set-records-london-auctionsYerebakan, Osman Can. “Robert Nava’s Whimsical Beasts Take Over the Watermill Center in the Hamptons” (Watermill Center exhibition review). Galerie, 3 August 2022. https://galeriemagazine.com/robert-nava-watermill-center/2021Bogojev, Sasha. ''Robert Nava's Solo Debut @ Pace Gallery" (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Juxtapoz, 29 January 2021. https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/robert-nava-s-solo-debut-pace-gallery/“Culture” (Pace Gallery exhibition preview). Avenue 44, no. 4 (July/August 2021): 44–45, illustrated.Douglas, Madison. “Robert Nava / Birds Fly, Then Must Be Our Earthly Angels on the Wing” (Vito Schnabel Gallery exhibition review). Flaunt, 5 April 2021.Felsberg, Kaylie and Beatrice Sapsford. “10 In-Demand Works on Artsy This Week: August 12, 2021.” Artsy, 12 August 2021. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-10-in-demand-works-artsy-week-08-12-21Gaskin, Sam. “Robert Nava’s First Show at Pace is a Veritable Sharknado” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Ocula Magazine, 7 January 2021. https://ocula.com/magazine/art-news/robert-navas-first-show-at-pace-is-a-sharknado/Kikol, Larissa. “Kindliche Ästhetik als Stil.” Kunstforum International 276, August–September 2021: 84–85, illustrated.Rees, Lucy. “Scene and Seen” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Galerie 6, no. 22 (Summer 2021): 106, illustrated.Samper, Cristina. “Step Inside the Contorted Realities of Robert Nava’s Latest Work at Pace Gallery, Palm Beach” (Pace Gallery exhibition review). Art of Choice, 14 January 2021. https://www.artofchoice.co/step-inside-the-contorted-realities-of-robert-navas-lates-work-at-pace-gallery-palm-beach/Segal, Mark. “The Art Scene 08.12.21” (Pace Gallery exhibition preview). The East Hampton Star, 12 August 2021. https://www.easthamptonstar.com/arts/2021812/art-scene-081221Schuster, Angela M.H. “Three Must-See New York Art Shows of Summer 2021” (Pace Gallery exhibition preview). Avenue Magazine, 21 July 2021. https://avenuemagazine.com/must-see-art-shows-nyc-hamptons-summer-2021/2020Dotson, Sarah. “5 Artists on Our Radar This August.” Artsy, 3 August 2020. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-5-artists-radar-augustDe Los Reyes, Lance. “Robert Nava's Secret Friends.” Office Magazine, 22 April 2020. http://officemagazine.net/robert-navas-secret-friendsEstiler, Keith. "Robert Nava Unveils New Paintings of Hybrid Beasts in Belgium" (Sorry We’re Closed gallery exhibition review). Hypebeast, 28 October 2020. https://hypebeast.com/2020/10/robert-nava-paintings-exhibition-sorry-were-closed-gallery-brusselsEstiler, Keith. "Robert Nava’s New Mythologies." Hypebeast, 19 March 2020. https://hypebeast.com/2020/3/hypebeast-magazine-28-ignition-robert-nava-interviewFreeman, Nate. “Wet Paint.” Artnet News, 11 December 2020. https://news.artnet.com/art-world/wet-paint-vito-schnabel-gallery-1930200Frydman, Arthur. “Robert Nava: Le maître du bad painting à l’honneur au sein de la galerie Sorry We’re Closed” (Sorry We’re Closed exhibition review). Luxe.net, 8 November 2020. https://luxe.net/robert-nava-le-maitre-du-bad-painting-a-lhonneur-au-sein-de-la-galerie-sorry-were-closed/Gassman, Gay. “What 11 Artists Have Created During Quarantine.” Architectural Digest, 19 May 2020. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/artists-work-in-quarantineGreenberger, Alex, Claire Selvin and Tessa Solomon. "ARTnews in Brief: Pace Gallery Now Represents Robert Nava—and More from November 30, 2020." ARTnews, 30 November 2020. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/breaking-art-industry-news-november-2020-week-5-1234577518/Kamp, Justin. “Robert Nava has joined Pace’s artist roster.” Artsy, 30 November 2020. https://www.artsy.net/news/artsy-editorial-robert-nava-joined-paces-artist-rosterSutton, Benjamin. “8 Artists Who Had Breakout Moments at Auction This Fall.” Artsy, 30 October 2020. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-8-artists-breakout-moments-auction-fallVogel, Maria. “Looking for Fresh Talent? Here Are 7 Rising-Star Artists to Seek Out at Armory Week 2020 in New York.” Artnet News, 2 March 2020. https://news.artnet.com/market/7-rising-star-artists-to-look-out-for-at-armory-week-2020-in-new-york-1788804Westall, Mark. "Robert Nava Joins Pace." FAD Magazine, 30 November 2020. https://fadmagazine.com/2020/11/30/robert-nava-joins-pace/2019Estiler, Keith. "Robert Nava Grapples with Mythical Creatures for "Vs" Exhibition" (Night Gallery exhibition review). Hypebeast, 14 August 2019. https://hypebeast.com/2019/8/robert-nava-vs-night-gallery-exhibitionBogojev, Sasha. "In Conversation with Robert Nava" (V1 Gallery exhibition review). Juxtapoz, 18 September 2019. https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/painting/in-conversation-with-robert-nava/Johnson, Noah. “Enter Painter Robert Nava’s Wild World of Monsters, Myths and Loud Techno.” GQ Style, 22 January 2019. https://www.gq.com/story/robert-nava-fresh-paint-interviewOsberg, Annabel. “Jasmine Little; Robert Nava” (Night Gallery exhibition review). Artillery, 7 August 2019. https://www.artillerymag.com/jasmine-little-robert-nava/Pete, Joseph S. “Brooklyn-based ‘rising star’ in arts world to return to Region to give talk at IUN.” The Times of Northwest Indiana, 15 October 2019. https://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/brooklyn-based-rising-star-in-arts-world-to-return-to-region-to-give-talk-at/article_793aa2be-3754-50f2-adfb-a596f35765fa.htmlRose, Erika. "Acclaimed artist Robert Nava returns to alma mater IUN." Chicago Tribune, 10 October 2019. https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/ct-ptb-iun-column-st-1011-20191010-ptxrpg44mzcx5pkf5tyh7xesdq-story.htmlZimskind, Lyle. “Robert Nava Vs/ Monsters at Night Gallery” (Night Gallery exhibition review). LA Weekly, 8 August 2019. https://www.laweekly.com/robert-nava-vs-monsters-at-night-gallery/2018Brody, Leslie. “Brooklyn Couple Offers Artists a Country Refuge—For Free.” The Wall Street Journal, 20 January 2018. https://www.wsj.com/articles/brooklyn-couple-offers-artists-a-country-refugefor-free-1517335088Estiler, Keith. “Avante Arte & Caio Twombly Team up on Upcoming "Mutants" Exhibition” (Avant Arte exhibition review). Hypebeast, 7 May 2018. https://hypebeast.com/2018/5/avant-arte-caio-twombly-mutants-nyc-exhibit“Inside Robert Nava’s Childlike Art of Absurdity.” Artland Magazine, 1 November 2018. https://magazine.artland.com/artist-feature-robert-nava/2017“Interview with Robert Nava.” Der House, 16 June 2017. https://derhouse.wordpress.com/2017/06/16/robert-nava/2015Gonzalez, Erik. “The Artist Mover: Interview with Robert Nava.” Art Handler, 30 September 2015. http://art-handler.com/magazine/robert-nava-the-artist-mover-by