Robert Blunk
Education
Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri Bachelor of Fine Arts, 1950
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas Master’s Degree in Art, Sculpture, 1961
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 30+ hours, Doctoral Program, 1976
Military Service
U.S. Marine Corps, VMF(N)534**, Radar Technician, 1942-1945, Guam, Saipan
Teaching, Exhibition, and Other Professional Activities
1950-1962: High school/community college art instructor, elementary art supervisor,
Designer of Safari Museum (collections of Osa and Martin Johnson), Chanute, Kansas,
1962: Joined art faculty of Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, retiring in 1988
1962: One-man show, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
1962, 1963, 1965 (merit award for “War Horse” metal sculpture), 1967: Annual
Exhibition, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri
1964: New Center U.S. Art Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri
1966-1975: Appointed to Kansas Cultural Arts Commission by Governor Avery,
1966, 1967: Spiva Art Center Annual Show, Joplin, Missouri
1966: Annual Kansas Artists Show, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, Kansas
1967: Two-man outdoor sculpture exhibit, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas
Kansas Painters and Printmakers Show, Pittsburg, Kansas, 1967
Annual Mid-America, Nelson-Atkins Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri – three exhibits,
1969: Consultancy/residency with Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, San Juan, Puerto
Rico. Advised on presentation of crafts to increase salability of work. Visits to island
artisans; designed displays and promotional posters. Graphics for international print
1974-1978: Co-chair, Environmental Cobweb. Pittsburg public school/university
1974: Merit award winner, national competition for promotional film—“None of the
Above” for Pittsburg State University.
1979: Chair of Diamond (75th) Anniversary Showcase, Pittsburg State University
1981-1983: Board of directors, Association of Community Arts Councils of Kansas
1982-2002: Member of Eleventh Judicial Selection Committee, Supreme Court of Kansas
1982: Interior designer, Crawford County Museum, Pittsburg, Kansas
1983: Designer of photomural installation (historic images), Kansas State Teachers’
Ashley Clinic, Chanute, Kansas, metal sculpture
Medical Clinic, Coffeyville, Kansas, metal sculpture
Coffey County Courthouse, Burlington, Kansas, cast stone
Neosho County Courthouse, Erie, Kansas, metal sculpture
Centennial Life Insurance Co., Pittsburg, Kansas, relief sculpture
1990-1994: Commissioned graphics for new construction, Owsley & Associates
Architects, AIA—Lamar High School (Missouri), Lamar Junior High School (Missouri),
Seneca High School (Missouri), Girard Elementary and High School (Kansas),
1988: Best of Show Award, Smoky Hill Art Exhibition, Salina, Kansas
1989-1992: Designed and coordinated efforts to construct pocket park on main street of
Pittsburg, Kansas. Winner of Main Streets Governor’s Award.
1991-1994: Board of directors, Stilwell Educational and Heritage Foundation, Pittsburg,
Kansas. Co-led community campaign to restore building.
1995: Commissioned work--George Booker Memorial Sundial, Technology Center,
Pittsburg State University---granite and bronze
1995: International Executive Service Corps consultancy, Lusaka, Zambia to work with
2000: Initiated “Save the Arches” campaign, Pittsburg, Kansas, to block demolition of
marble arches of historic Masonic Temple. Area developed into a landscaped parking
2000: Designed sculptural “Welcome to Pittsburg” sign, entryway to city.
2001-2003: Designed and coordinated resources for Wright brothers kinetic sculpture
(89’ diameter x 26’) for Main Street, Chanute, Kansas, to commemorate 100th
anniversary of invention of flight. Dedicated in 2003.
2010, November 1-30: Solo exhibition, Alumni Gallery, Vanderslice Hall, Kansas City
Art Institute (KCAI), Kansas City, Missouri, as a part of KCAI’s 125th Anniversary
January 21, 2011 through present – Representation by Strecker-Nelson Gallery,
January 21 – March 5 and June 17 – July 30, 2011 Group exhibitions at Strecker-
Nelson Gallery, Manhattan, Kansas
2014, April 1-30: Salon Exhibit, Philadelphia, PA
Stops Along the Way (portfolio of 8 prints dated from 1948-2013)
2017, June 3-24, Chestnut Hill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Primary Colors
2018, March 3 - April 27: Chestnut Hill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Robert Blunk for ArtStart, A Benefit for Arts Education, A Tyler School of Art Full Scholarship Program for Philadelphia High School Students at Temple University.
PUBLIC and PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Spencer Museum of Art, Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas “Rachel and the Angels”
(1982, oil painting), permanent collection
Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas “Americana” (1987,
Emprise Bank Group, Wichita, Kansas, “Regatta” (2004, metal sculpture), permanent
Beach Museum of Art, 23 paintings, sculpture, lithographs, drawings, plus 15
sketchbooks—permanent collection
Hale Library, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas academic and personal
papers, exhibition catalogs, media coverage, WWII military service era letters—permanent collection
Private collections in Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Chicago, and Raleigh, North Carolina.
**Squadron number--V Military Force Night Fighter
For more information, contact: Scott Blunk
Bigoak12803@yahoo.com