The Fall with Bridge

Inspired by the serendipitous event of accidentally dropping a cherished heirloom plate, Rob Strati embarked on the creation of his charming series, Fragmented. Each piece in this series revolves around a genuine shattered plate, with Strati skillfully arranging fragments of ornate porcelain depicting picturesque landscapes. He complements these shattered pieces with intricate ink drawings, carefully replicating the original monochrome hues of antique plates and seamlessly integrating lines and patterns into fantastical scenarios.

Within the Fragmented series, Strati liberates the artistic elements from the confines of the circular frame, allowing them to sprawl across the canvas. This artistic freedom entails expanding on the miniature scenes adorning the broken dish, transforming, for instance, a simple depiction into a sprawling lake dotted with boats that extends into the horizon. Additionally, Strati unravels the floral patterns enveloping the plate's center, permitting vines and abstract elements to gracefully drift into the sky.

These whimsical illustrations breathe new life into the fractured object, simultaneously honoring its original significance. Beyond showcasing Strati's artistic prowess, these pieces serve as a poignant reminder that even broken objects possess the potential for transformation into something extraordinary.

Robert Strati was born in Boston, MA in 1970 and grew up in Columbus, OH. He earned a degree in Art History from the Ohio State University. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally including exhibitions at Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Los Angeles, Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, The Wexner Center for the Arts Columbus, OH and the International Print Center NY, NY among others. He currently lives and maintains his studio in Nyack, NY.