Robert Longo American, b. 1953

Robert Longo is a major American artist known for his monumental, hyperrealistic charcoal drawings and his critical exploration of the role of images in contemporary society. He studied at the University at Buffalo and the State University of New York, and emerged as a key figure in the 1980s art scene alongside artists such as Cindy Sherman, with whom he has long collaborated.

He rose to prominence with his iconic "Men in the Cities" series, depicting sharply dressed figures caught in dramatic, contorted poses—simultaneously evoking movement, collapse, and tension. From that point on, his work has explored the constant interplay between formal beauty and political urgency, drawing on art history, cinema, media imagery, and current events.

Working primarily in charcoal, with astonishing technical precision, Longo challenges viewers to reflect on the power and manipulation of visual culture. His subjects range from civil unrest and natural catastrophes to portraits of political icons and surging ocean waves.

His work is included in major public collections such as the MoMA, the Whitney Museum (New York), the Centre Pompidou (Paris), and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.