Biography

Based in Austin, Texas, a latinx visual artist, Robert Jackson Harrington creates artwork from everyday materials that center on the concept of potential. Harrington received his BFA from the University of Texas at El Paso and his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. His work has been included in exhibitions at the International Sculpture Center, Museo de Arte Juárez, The Contemporary Austin, Mexic-Arte Museum, Lawndale Art Center, and the University Art Galleries at Texas State. Most recently, Harrington has presented work at El Museo del Barrio in New York City and Wedge Project in Chicago, Illinois.

Statement

My work creates false narratives exploiting the idea of potential. I make arrangements using common, everyday materials such as cutting boards, lighters, silicone straws, extension cords, lamps, locks, Zip-ties, ice chests, wheels, razors, flashlights, plywood, lumber, an inexhaustible list really. I choose objects with vivid color and have some sort of utility that I render useless in my assemblages. I produce an object or image of a machine or device that functions only to be looked at. It acts as a stimulus or catalyst, a suggestion for a situation, or an action that compels the viewer to respond. My goal is to lead the viewer to believe that my art somehow performs some kinetic function or illustrates a scheme of some unknown action. I feel that the viewers’ projected ideas of what my work can potentially be is far more interesting than the actual artworks themselves.