Robert T. Rogers
Robert T. Rogers is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice moves between abstract oil painting, conceptual photography, and writing. His engagement with art began in high school through a drawing course focused on studying and imitating the watercolor work of Winslow Homer. During this period, music was also a significant outlet, and he wrote song lyrics alongside his visual practice. These early experiences established a foundation rooted in observation, interpretation, and expression across mediums.
Rogers pursued formal training through a Studio Arts certificate from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and later earned a graduate certificate in Visual Arts from Harvard Extension School. His studies reinforced technical fundamentals while expanding his understanding of photography and art history. That academic grounding continues to inform how he contextualizes his work, allowing him to situate personal expression within broader visual and historical frameworks.
While abstract oil painting remains his primary focus, Rogers maintains an active interest in photography and writing. His photography often takes a conceptual form, driven by narrative questions rather than documentation. He describes a process where an image might prompt a line of inquiry, such as imagining a photograph as a scene within a story, which in turn leads to writing. Titles function as another bridge between visual and textual thinking, reinforcing the interconnected nature of his practice.
Recurring themes in Rogers’s work include spirituality and mental health. His engagement with spirituality is influenced by the Book of Revelation, while his exploration of mental health draws from principles associated with cognitive behavioral therapy, particularly the pursuit and practice of values. These themes are not treated didactically but serve as underlying structures that shape content, intention, and reflection across media.
Rogers’s creative process often begins with expressive and creative journaling, which generates raw material for both visual and written work. Music frequently accompanies his painting sessions, contributing to rhythm and emotional tone. Personal moments, events, and observations recorded through journaling later resurface as imagery, text, or conceptual frameworks.
One notable project, Engaging Revelation, exemplifies his conceptual approach to photography. Developed in his Boston neighborhood, the series linked specific images to passages and ideas from the Book of Revelation. The project required deliberate planning and emphasized interpretation over immediacy, highlighting his interest in aligning environment, symbolism, and spiritual inquiry.
For Rogers, integrity is central to both life and art. He views staying true to one’s values as a guiding principle and sees creative work as a way to practice and affirm those values. Fulfillment comes from completing creative tasks and sharing the resulting sense of joy with others. Success is measured less by external validation and more by personal satisfaction and continuity of practice.
His personal life directly influences his work through reflection and documentation. Journaling acts as both a record and a catalyst, transforming lived experience into creative material. Looking ahead, Rogers remains committed to exploration across painting, photography, and writing, continuing to develop work grounded in curiosity, reflection, and spiritual awareness.
