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Robert Loughlin 1949–2011
Robert Loughlin was a beloved artist and character in the world of design. Born in Alameda, California in 1949, his interest in design flourished at a young age. By the late 1970s, he had opened two stores in San Francisco, being one of the first "pickers" to specialize and create a resale market for mid-century design. In 1980, he relocated to Miami Beach, Florida where he established a third store and also began painting.
After several years, he moved to New York City and opened the Executive Gallery and became immersed in the downtown art scene. He became known for his boisterous, hard-living as much as his design skills; he sourced art and furniture for clients such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Robert Mapplethorpe. One of his most impressive finds was a Salvador Dali painting at a thrift shop that he bought for $40. During this time, his iconic imagery of "The Brute," a smoking square-jawed male figure, began appearing all over the city — on found objects including doors, tables, antiques, trash, bottles, skateboards, other works of art, and public spaces alike. "The Brute," an idealized male face, often depicted smoking, recalls the classic, masculine faces of James Dean and Marlon Brando, and is modeled after Loughlin's partner of thirty-one years, Gary Carlson. Loughlin explored the far reaches of this singular imagery, which has since become an icon of gay and outsider culture.
His artworks are collected by institutions such as The Carnegie Museum of Art and among personal collections including the artist Donald Baechler. Tragically, Robert Loughlin was struck by a car near his home in New Jersey in 2011.
Auction Results Robert Loughlin
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (LPs fifteen works)
estimate: $6,000–8,000
result: $5,000
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (screen)
estimate: $4,000–5,000
result: $3,750
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (wood panel)
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $3,556
Robert Loughlin
Untitled
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $3,048
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (Torpedo...Los rug)
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $3,000
Robert Loughlin
Untitled
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $3,000
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (Sony TV)
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $3,000
Robert Loughlin
69
estimate: $5,000–7,000
result: $3,000
Robert Loughlin
Untitled, Our First President and Phisters Mother (three works)
estimate: $3,000–5,000
result: $2,794
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (Mercury Eight Hubcap)
estimate: $700–900
result: $2,750
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (Thonet stool #2)
estimate: $3,000–4,000
result: $2,540
Robert Loughlin
Untitled (Attack Dog)
estimate: $2,000–3,000
result: $2,500