Robin Klassnik

Robin Klassnik
OBE
Born
Andre Robin Klassnik

(1947-01-28) 28 January 1947 (age 79)
Johannesburg, Union of South Africa
CitizenshipBritish (from 1963)
Education
Occupations
OrganisationMatt's Gallery
Spouse
Kathryn Halton
​
(m. 1979)​
AwardsOBE, 2014

Andre Robin Klassnik OBE (born 28 January 1947) is a South African-born British artist, gallerist and educator, known for founding Matt's Gallery.

Early life and education

Klassnik was born Andre Robin Klassnik on 28 January 1947 in Johannesburg, Union of South Africa (present-day South Africa) to an exiled Lithuanian-Jewish family. Settling in London in 1960, Klassnik later studied at the Hornsey College of Art from 1963 to 1965. During 1965 to 1968, Klassnik studied at Leicester College of Art.

Career

Following graduation Klassnik returned to London where he took up a Space studio at St Katharine Docks. During this time, Klassnik’s practice moved from painting to sculpture, 8mm film and photography. Klassnik’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at venues including the ICA, Whitechapel Art Gallery, and the Paris Biennale. Notable projects of Klassnik’s include his collaboration Five Pheromones: The Incomplete Documentation with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Tom Clark.

In 1971, Klassnik moved studios to Martello Street, London Fields, where he opened Matt's Gallery, in 1979. Now located at Webster Road,[clarification needed] Matt's Gallery has been described as ‘the most heroic art space in London’ and 'a little utopia'. The gallery represents twenty five artists, including Susan Hiller; Imogen Stidworthy, Nathaniel Mellors, Willie Doherty and Mike Nelson.

Teaching

Klassnik has taught at a variety of institutions throughout his career including at the London College of Printing; Goldsmiths; Camberwell College of Arts; Chelsea College of Arts; the Royal College of Art; Slade School of Fine Art; University of Brighton; Northumbria University; University of Reading; Newcastle University; Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art; Valands Konsthogskola, Sweden; and Statens Kunstakademi, Oslo. He was also a visiting professor at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Head of Complementary Studies at Byam Shaw School of Art.

Awards

In 1986, Klassnik was commended by the Turner Prize for his contributions to contemporary art. In 1994, Klassnik was shortlisted for the Prudential/Arts Council Award for an individual contribution to innovation and creativity in the arts. In 2014, Klassnik was awarded an OBE for services to the visual arts.

Personal life

Klassnik obtained British citizen in 1963. In 1979, Klassnik married Kathryn Halton.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Klassnik, Robinnik". Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 31 October 2011. doi:10.1093/benz/9780199773787.article.B00099172. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  2. ↑ McNay, Michael (10 April 2019). "David Troostwyk obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 Dorment, Richard (27 June 2006). "Caught in a labyrinth of ideas". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Andre R Klassnik and Kathryn L Halton". England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916–2005 [database online]. 13 (Q4). General Register Office: 0993. 1979.
  5. ↑ "everything talks with Robin Klassnik". bak.spc.org. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Matt's Gallery - History of Matt's Gallery". www.mattsgallery.org. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  7. ↑ mattsgallery (27 March 2013). "Boar Mate". Matt's Gallery Archive. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. ↑ Januszczak, Waldemar (17 May 2009). "Give credit to the crunch". Sunday Times.
  9. ↑ Jones, Jonathan (3 March 2009). "Jonathan Jones: Matt's Gallery: a real friend to art". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  10. ↑ "Making SPACE: Artist-Led Initiatives Now". Whitechapel Gallery. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "Matt's Gallery - Matt's Gallery Education 2009". www.mattsgallery.org. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  12. ↑ konstmuseum., Göteborgs (2010). Omskakad spelplan : konsten i Göteborg under 1980- och 1990-talet = A disarranged playing board : art in Gothenburg during the 1980s and 1990s. Arvidsson, Kristoffer., Werner, Jeff, 1961-. Göteborg: Göteborgs Konstmuseum. ISBN 978-9187968709. OCLC 682890479.
  13. ↑ "Matt's Gallery - Present tense". www.mattsgallery.org. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  14. ↑ Tate. "Turner Prize 1986 shortlist: Robin Klassnik". Tate. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  15. ↑ "Queen's birthday honours list 2014: OBE". The Guardian. 13 June 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 January 2019.