about the artist

Robert is an artist who  resides in Sacramento, CA, where the Sacramento delta with its rich landscape and history has become his favorite place to paint.  Before that, he lived in Ohio, Minnesota, and various parts of California  He works mostly in oil paints and pastels, and his artwork includes plein air landscapes, figures, and stil lifes.  

Robert has a life-long interest in art. In grade school, he took youth art classes at the Toledo Museum of Art (Ohio) and roamed the galleries to view the paintings and mummies.  He earned  a college graduate degree in art history, and completed additional college level art studio and graphics courses. Robert has participated in various arts groups, including Arts Benicia, Lafayette Studio, Walnut Creek Civic Arts Education, and currently the Patris Studio and YoloArts in Sacramento.  His work can also be viewed on-line at FineArtAmerica.com.

Generally, Robert likes to work quickly with rich colors; his subjects include anything that might be fun, challenging, and interesting to view.  He admires and is energized by bold and innovative artists, like Bonnard, Manet, Delacroix, Rubens, Hiroshige, Eakins, Thiebaud, and Diebenkorn, among others.   Robert believes it is important to observe and learn about the work of other artists, and is a big fan of art books and museum (See his FAVES tabs on this website).

Robert regularly exhibits his work in solo and group shows. In its review “Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery Honors Local Artistic Voices,” The Contra Costa Times  praised his entry: “Even traditional subjects can have an edge. Robert Gonsowski’s ‘Autumn Table’ is an almost jolting still life of squash, two of them sliced in half to reveal fat seeds, with a couple of turnips added to the mix.” (Robert Taylor, The Contra Costa Times, July 11, 2008).

• Solo shows, Imperial Bank Building, San Francisco, CA (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007).
• ArtsBenicia annual art auction, Benicia, CA (2003-2010).
• ArtsBenicia annual members show, Benicia, CA (2004-2011).
• Local Voice-Defining Community Through Art, Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA (Juried shows featuring Contra Costa artists, 2005, 2008).
• Solo show, City Attorney’s Office, Walnut Creek, CA (2007).
• Alameda County Fair annual exhibit, Pleasanton, CA (Juried, 2008-2009, 2011) (2011 silver award).
• Still life exhibit, City Hall, Walnut Creek, CA (2009).
• Flyway Festival wetlands art exhibit, Mare Island, CA (2009).
• Variations on a Theme, Pittsburg Arts Collaborative, Pittsburg, CA, 2010 (Juried, 2010) (Third place award). 
• Expressions annual exhibit, Tracy Art League, Tracy, CA (Juried, 2011).
• The Essential Nude: Figurative Fine Art, Livermore Art Association, Livermore, CA, (Juried, 2011, 2012) (2011 merit award).
• Walnut Creek Civic Arts plein air landscape show, Walnut Creek, CA (Juried, 2011).
• Walnut Creek Civic Arts figurative art show, Walnut Creek, CA (2011).
• Winter members show, Pittsburg Arts Collaborative, Pittsburg, CA (Juried, 2012, 2013) (2012 honorable mention).
• Solo landscape show, City Hall, Walnut Creek, CA (2012).
• Faces portrait exhibit, Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County, Martinez, CA (2013).
• Celebrating California, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael, CA (Juried, 2016).
• Wines of Clarksburg annual art auction for Clarksburg Library, Heringer Ranch Winery, Silt Winery, Clarksburg, CA (2016-2023).
• (Surroundings), YoloArts, The Barn Gallery, Woodland, CA (Juried, 2019).
• Lynn House Inaugural Exhibit, Historic Lynn House Gallery, Antioch, CA (Invited, 2020).
• Sweet!, joint exhibit of dessert paintings by Robert Gonsowski and Polly LaPorte, YoloArts, Gallery 625, Woodland, CA (2021).
• Sweet!, joint exhibit of dessert paintings by Robert Gonsowski and Polly LaPorte, Historic Lynn House Gallery, Antioch, CA (2022).
• Delicious (work inspired by food and drink), Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA (2022).
• Sweet!, joint exhibit of dessert paintings by Robert Gonsowski and Polly LaPorte, Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Elk Grove, CA, (2022).
• Urban Landscape, Epperson Gallery, Crockett, CA (2023).
• Art Farm Exhibit, YoloArts, The Barn Gallery, Woodland, CA (2023).