Here's a recent interview from Shout out Arizona. We had the good fortune of connecting with Robert Lange and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Robert, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My wife Megan and I were in our early twenties and just naive enough with nothing to lose to open a small business. Our friends helped paint walls and we crossed our fingers we would sell a painting to pay rent. That was 20 years ago.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I consider my art to be a surreal visual journal of my life. I try to allow my imagination to commingle with reality resulting in optimistic and often magical realistic paintings of musings, memories and beliefs. My journey to the painter I am today came from finally understanding that great paintings would come from endless practice and a willingness to share my imagination and my vulnerability. I wholeheartedly believe that with every finished piece there are lessons to be learned and because of that, the more time I spend at the easel the more I grow. As a gallery owner and practicing artist I often get into conversations with young artists and my advice is always the same. Make work that is an honest reflection of who you are. If you happen to be an eternal optimist with a child-like love for the joyful cheesy moments life has to offer, its ok to make those joys the subject of your work. My favorite pieces I have made over the past decade have been those of my children, they are filled with a father’s love and desire to see life through their beautiful idealistic lenses.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Charleston is an incubator for the creative spirit. It is all art, food, wine and culture that drives this city. If I were to have someone visiting from out of town I would simply invite them to eat and drink their way through the town and then wander along the charming historic streets to walk off the eating and the drinking. Everyone here moves at the pace of vacation so its best to go with that flow and enjoy the slow. We are so spoiled having some of the greatest beaches in the area so a part of any visitor’s experience in Charleston should be walking the sandy shores of Sullivan’s Island or Folly Beach.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to dedicate my shoutout to my lovely wife and business partner Megan. We met in college at 19, fell deeply for each other and have spent the better part of the past 24 years side by side. In all aspects of our life we work as a team. As fellow artists we push each other to grow, as parents we recognize the gifts and strengths we each bring towards raising our children and as gallery owners we each bring our own creative visions to the table allowing the business to flourish through our cross pollination. She is my medicine in this world and I can not imagine any of my good fortunate having taken place without her standing by my side. Also, she’s the most beautiful person I know, so there’s that as well.
