Robert Mertens

R. Mertens is an artist, curator and educator living in Virginia. His work revolves around the intersection between technology, religion, anthropology and myth. These pieces combine new media with traditional fiber craft and culminate in performances, installations and powered sculptures. Mertens has previously been the director and founder of the Modular Project Space artist residency in Virginia, the 543 Artist Residency and Le Toilette Gallery in Oregon and the Weaving Room Recording Studio in Chicago IL. Past exhibitions and awards include: International Fiber Art Festival 2023, Hangaram Museum of Design, Seoul, South Korea, High Fiber Diet Biennial, Bellevue Arts Museum, WA; Extreme Fibers: Textile Icons and New Edge, Muskegon Museum of Art, MI; Spring Solos, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, VA; Fibremen Four, Scythia Arts Center, Kherson, Ukraine; and the Virginia Museum of Fine Art Professional Artist Fellowship. Currently, he is the director of the Fiber Art Department and a faculty member at James Madison University in Virginia.

MFA
University of Oregon
BFA
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Audio Engineering Certification
Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College

Hangaram Museum of Design, Seoul, South Korea
Scythia Arts Center, Kherson, Ukraine
Burren College of Art, Newton Castle, Ireland
Bellevue Arts Museum, WA
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Virginia Beach, VA
Dennos Museum Center, Traverse City, MI
Museum of Contemporary Craft, Portland, OR
Muskegon Art Museum, MI.
Museum of Contemporary Art, Arlington, VA
East Tennessee State University, Karlota Gallery, TN
Marshall University, WV
Berea College, KY
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Elon University, NC
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Hunter Gallery, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Crooked Tree Arts Center,Traverse City, MI
Arts Council Fayetteville, Fayetteville, NC
Praxis Fiber Workshop,Cleveland, OH
Harry Wood Gallery,Tempe, AR
SEAD Gallery, Houston, TX
Ann Arbor Art Center; Ann Arbor, MI