New exhibition at Tampa Museum of Art presents Robert Rauschenberg: America Mix-16

(Tampa, FL.) – The Tampa Museum of Art is delighted to announce the opening of one of the 20th century’s most influential artists, Robert Rauschenberg (American, 1925-2008), who defined his oeuvre by using ordinary, non-traditional materials to create distinct works of art.

His “combines” hovered between painting and sculpture, and incorporated a range of media and techniques. Rauschenberg often used photography in his work and layered images to render provocative narratives or observations about the world around him. Suite 1 from (America Mix-16), 1983, a portfolio of 16 photogravures, features photographs of found vignettes or objects Rauschenberg encountered during his travels around the U.S. He found beauty in the mundane, such as a dilapidated rag hanging from the gas cap of an abandoned truck or the inadvertent still life of trashed objects resting on the curb. Rarely exhibited from the Tampa Museum of Art’s collection, the entirety of this portfolio will be on view August 9, 2019 through January 5, 2020.

Joanna Robotham, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, states, “Robert Rauschenberg’s portfolio America Mix-16 reflects Rauschenberg’s passion for photography. While his contributions to painting and sculpture have been widely celebrated, Rauschenberg’s explorations in photography are not well known. This exhibition highlights the artist’s photography practice and explores the significance of the found object in Rauschenberg’s oeuvre.”

About the Tampa Museum of Art

The Tampa Museum of Art opened its award-winning home in 2010 with a commitment to providing innovative public programs with a strong focus on classical, modern, and contemporary art. As the Tampa Museum of Art nears its 100th anniversary, exhibitions in 2019 and 2020 focus on the breadth of the institution’s permanent collection, as well as examine its collecting history. The Museum balances a growing collection, including one of the largest Greek and Roman antiquities collections in the southeastern United States, with a dynamic annual schedule of special exhibitions. It is the region’s largest museum devoted to art of our time and has built a reputation for embracing contemporary photography and new media; most notably, Leo Villareal’s Sky (Tampa), the 14,000-square-foot LED installation on the Museum’s south façade, has become an iconic image for Tampa. Since its founding in 1979, the Museum has been dedicated to providing quality education to students and adults, with more than half of its programs offered free of charge. The Museum is home to the Riverwalk Cafe, which overlooks the Hillsborough River and has emerged as Tampa’s premier venue for special events.

General Hours and Information

The Museum opens daily at 10 a.m. Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday*, Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.  *Fourth Fridays from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Museum’s phone number is 813.274.8130 and the website is www.tampamuseum.org. The Museum’s address is 120 W. Gasparilla Plaza. Tampa, FL 33602.

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