"My work always begins with the human figure and face. I create figures, often stylized, in the hope that through movement, kinetic tension, the exaggeration of form, or the sheer beauty of line, some thoughtful and heartfelt aspect of human experience will be revealed. For me, the most moving of all sculptural forms are those that capture the psychological ambiguities, conflicts, emotions, and hidden meanings of everyday life.

In "The Human Comedy" series, I’ve tried to capture a distorted, cartoon-like, humorous, but always faithful depiction of human character, experience, and relationship; as in a dream when someone appears strange but recognizable, usually because some essence or private obsession is exposed.

In the "Conjunction Series", I have sculpted a bronze figure and then carved in stone an abstract form that serves as it's base and also is a reflection of the quality of the figure it supports.

The "Anatomy of Melancholy" series consists of ten pieces that portray the reflective nature of this familiar bittersweet experience. They start with the figurative, become more stylized in nature, and finally evolve into more abstract forms.

The latest series "Theme and Variation", which I am currently working on, takes the evolution idea a step further by having the evolution of form take place in the same sculpture, including playing with images from Picasso, Matisse, Brancusi, Noguchi, Giacometti, and Botero.

In making all of these sculpted forms, my desire is to arouse something visceral; to comfort, to induce a chuckle, to invite reflection, and on occasion, to startle, to make the hairs stand up on your neck.”

Bob's website and email: bob@robertcantor.com