Robert Hobbs

Robert Carleton Hobbs is a renowned American art historian and curator specializing extensively in twentieth-century art. Since 1991, Hobbs has been a distinguished occupant of the Rhoda Thalhimer Endowed Chair of American Art at the School of Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, a top-ranking art department. Since 2004, Hobbs has served as a visiting scholar at Yale University. His career spans top universities such as Cornell University, University of Iowa, Florida State University. He's prominently recognized for serving as a Chief Curator for Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Iran. Hobbs has a prolific writing career marked by numerous books, comprehensive essays, exhibitions and contributions to the field of art.

Born in 1946, he approaches art from a unique perspective derived from his diverse background. Hobbs, son of the scientist Charles S. Hobbs, hailed from a family retreat where the Tennessee Valley Authority had been planned. His academic journey cutting across different schools, ultimately led him to attain a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. His professional journey witnessed landmark collaborations, cutting-edge exhibitions, and influential publications. From early retrospectives of Abstract Expressionism at Cornell to spearheading programs at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and holding directorships at various university art departments, Hobbs has made monumental contributions to the art space. He continues to work diligently as a scholar and curator, organizing retrospectives and contributing significantly to the recognition and understanding of various artists.