Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Robert Pasternak is
one of Canada’s most prolific and original visionary artists. He has strong roots in both Realism
and Surealism and could be described as a metaphysicist. His Meta Figure paintings reveal glimpses
of the hidden aspects or vibrations of the Human Being, showing the inner life in favour of the
mundane, outer shell. Our bodies, he believes, are only the simplest and coarsest aspect of our
Being. Our preoccupation with the outer shell leaves us with the illusion of our separateness from
each other and the Cosmos.
My work is a continual exploration into the fantastic corners of the collective consciousness, the
inner light of the soul and the illustrative boundaries of our ethereal body.
I work from one area of vision to another, creating visually opposite works from one day to the next,
building up several series of works through time.
My goals are to unveil connections between disparate patterns and symbols found in nature to the
fantastical notions derived from my psyche, intuition and the divine.
Robert Pasternak
INFLUENCES
Early on Pasternak found an affinity with artists such as Roger Dean,
Frank Frazetta, Jim Steranko, Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher. Later he discovered Geogia O’Keefe,
Lawren Harris, Ivan Eyre RCA and the visionary figurative work of De Es, Robert Venosa, Michel Henricot
and Alex Grey. Music was also a source of ideas and inspiration, beginning with Jean Michel Jarre
and leading to composers like Steve Reich.
On later reflection, Pasternak began to realize that his influences
also came from a broader base than the obvious cultural sources or his parents. His formative
years in the ’60s were no doubt influenced by psychedelic movement and the usual advertising that
we are all exposed to. He gained glimpses of the hidden world that lies beyond logic and science,
resonances hidden deep within the psyche-primal memories of the Cosmic Sleep. When one has a
heightened sensitivity, the world may indeed become a larger place.
INSPIRATION
Inspiration does not seem to be lacking in Pasternak’s life, as his
prolific career gives evidence. He is open to the world on many levels, finding joy in apples and
insects, sacred geometry, the human body, flowers, Christ, grids, curves, suns and galaxies. He
inspires us with the light and beauty of his art.
EDUCATION
As an artist and a person, Pasternak is mostly self-taught. He studies
at the “Institute of Osmosis”, absorbing knowledge and wisdom, insights and inspiration directly
from his surroundings. His aproach to learning is broad, including reading, experimentation, quiet
observation and a healthy work-ethic. He seems to be ever on the verge of discovering great Truths.
Like most of us, the mysteries of the Cosmos remain just beyond his grasp, but the paintings he
creates act as a beacon on the path.
WORK
Pasternak has worked in many fields that have contributed to his
artistic training. He has worked as a production artist, designing for the garment industry,
incuding logo and crest designs and colour separations for screen-printing. He was the art
director for Zygote magazine for two years. He worked as a digital colourist for a multimedia
firm. He continues to work as a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and fine artist, working
on commissioned paintings as well as his own ideas.
Pasternak’s art has graced the covers of many books, including authors
Timothy Findley, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Phyllis Gotlieb and Robert Enright. In addition he is a recurring
cover artist for such publications as On Spec. He has designed CD jackets, business cards, comics,
posters and an amazing variety of multimedia booklets and curiosities.