Bob Camblin

Bob Camblin

American, 1928–2010
BiographyAmerican, born August 1, 1928

by Bill Davenport
December 2010
Legendary Houston artist Bob Camblin died December 4 in LaPlace, LA from complications following a stroke he suffered last year. Born in Oklahoma in 1928, Camblin studied painting at the Kansas City Art Institute, earning an M.F.A. in 1955. He taught at at Rice University from 1967-73 with Joe Tate and Earl Staley, with whom he shared studio space. His influence was a constant undrcurrent in the city's art scene until he left in the early 80's. Volatile and gregarious, Camblin saw himself as a vehicle for artistic inspiration, not always fully responsible for his highly personal, narrative polemic works. Wary of interpretation, he assumed multiple artistic personas, signing himself Anonymous Bosch, Red Stick the Pirate, and Mr. Peanut and is the only artist without a written statement featured in the seminal 1985 "Fresh Paint: The Houston School" catalog. Camblin is survived by his wife, Nancy Giordano.

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