December 11 – May 27, 2009
Robert Luvall: An American Impressionist
December 11, 2008 – May 27, 2009

Born in Galesburg, Illinois, Robert Luvall’s fascination with art began at age 5 when he drew comic strip characters on scraps of newsprint brought home by his aunt who worked at the local newspaper. He created his first oil painting at age 15. Luvall served with the armed forces in Europe during World War II and upon returning home decided the non-stop, whirlwind life of a creative artist was for him. He moved to New York and enrolled in the Art Student’s League. Later he purchased a one-way steamship ticket to France. Although he traveled stowage in a tiny windowless cabin, the voyage inspired in him a love of travel and proved to be the first of many free spirited adventures. For 8 years Luvall lived in France as an itinerate portrait and landscape painter working plein aire (in the open air) and painting as many as four portraits a day. During his long sojourn he studied at the Académie Julian and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris, traveled extensively around Europe and exhibited his paintings in London, Paris, Brussels and Cannes. After returning to the States he settled in Connecticut where he made sculpture, technical illustrations, architectural renderings, murals and even designed interiors for shopping centers. Today he works in his Bonita Springs studio drawing and painting scenes of South Florida and of the many far away places he has visited. Luvall and his partner Bob Holmes have circumnavigated the world 7 times and made numerous sea voyages to distant lands. Their most recent adventure took them to the Brazilian Amazon.

Luvall’s paintings have been exhibited in the Royal Art Gallery in New Orleans, Deligny Gallery in Chicago and Little Studio in New York. His work is held in numerous corporate and private collections including MasterCard Incorporated. Luvall’s portrait sitters include Monserrat Cabalier and Mirella Freni of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Gisèle Grandpré of the Comédie-Française in Paris, Joan Turner of the London Vaudeville Circuit and Hurd Hatfield of the Broadway stage and Hollywood cinema. Robert Luvall: An American Impressionist features 29 paintings, 8 drawings and 1 lithograph print. The exhibition will be on view in the atrium of Physicians Regional Medical Center-Pine Ridge from December 11 through March 25, 2009. Physicians Regional Medical Center-Pine Ridge is located at 6101 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 6 am-8 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9 am-8 pm.

For more information on Robert Luvall or to purchase an artwork contact Jack O’Brien at The von Liebig Art Center - (239) 262-6517 ext. 106. Ten percent of artwork sales benefit Physician Medical Center.

The book My Vagabond Easel: A Collection of International Paintings and Pencil Drawings by Robert Luvall featuring color reproductions of the artist’s work is now available in The von Liebig Art Center’s gift shop.

Artwork on display at Physicians Regional Medical Center helps to create a healing environment for patients, visitors and staff. As part of a supportive partnership between the Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center and Physicians Regional Medical Center, three to four exhibitions are installed at the Pine Ridge Road facility each year.

Special thanks are extended to Betsey Harris for including her clay sculptures in this exhibition.