Robert Engman
Encyclopedia
Robert Engman is an American
sculptor with a number of works in the Hirshhorn Museum, and elsewhere in the U.S.
. He joined the Navy at the age of 15, serving in World War II
in the Pacific. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design
with a BFA, and from Yale University
with an MFA in 1955, in Painting and in Sculpture, where he studied with Josef Albers
.
He has taught sculpture at Yale University
, and at the University of Pennsylvania
.
One of his best-known sculptures, entitled "Triune", created in 1975, stands in Philadelphia at the south west corner of City Hall. Another, "Kings" is at 78th and Lindbergh Streets, also in Philadelphia. In his work, he often explores minimal surface
intersections of geometric forms, which has led to the interest over the years, of many who are involved in the science and mathematics of such surfaces, including the late R. Buckminster Fuller.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sculptor with a number of works in the Hirshhorn Museum, and elsewhere in the U.S.
Life
Engman was born in 1927 to parents who had emigrated from SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He joined the Navy at the age of 15, serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Pacific. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
with a BFA, and from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
with an MFA in 1955, in Painting and in Sculpture, where he studied with Josef Albers
Josef Albers
Josef Albers was a German-born American artist and educator whose work, both in Europe and in the United States, formed the basis of some of the most influential and far-reaching art education programs of the 20th century....
.
He has taught sculpture at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, and at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Works
Penn students collaborated with him to create the Peace Symbol sculpture in front of the Van Pelt Library.One of his best-known sculptures, entitled "Triune", created in 1975, stands in Philadelphia at the south west corner of City Hall. Another, "Kings" is at 78th and Lindbergh Streets, also in Philadelphia. In his work, he often explores minimal surface
Minimal surface
In mathematics, a minimal surface is a surface with a mean curvature of zero.These include, but are not limited to, surfaces of minimum area subject to various constraints....
intersections of geometric forms, which has led to the interest over the years, of many who are involved in the science and mathematics of such surfaces, including the late R. Buckminster Fuller.