Robert Longoâs charcoal drawings resist traditional expectations of medium. His process often begins with a photographic image found online, which he will amplify, re-compose, or juxtapose with other images before translating into charcoal. In layers of fragile black dust, Longo builds remarkably sculptural, meticulously detailed forms at an imposing scale unusual for drawing.Â
The striking finished artwork is a meditation on how we digest imagesâand what they tell us about the worldâusing technical innovation to emphasize their power and complexity.
Posted by Sara Softness Process timelapse and finished photograph of Robert Longo (American, born 1953). Untitled (Raft at Sea), 2017. Charcoal on mounted paper, 140 x 281 in (355.6 x 713.7 cm). Š Robert Longo, Private European Collection. (Process photos coutesy of the artist, final image courtesy of the artist and Metro Pictures, New York)










