The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center will present its inaugural Award for Service to Art and Humanity to environmental artist Aurora Robson at the museum’s annual gala on Aug. 19.
Born in Toronto and raised in Maui, Hawaii, Robson lived, studied and worked in New York City for two decades before relocating to her current home in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her sculptures have been exhibited and collected internationally, and she has been the recipient of numerous grants and fellowships.
“BMAC believes in the power of art and artists to imagine new possibilities, to communicate across political and cultural divides and to encourage empathy and collaboration,” said BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld. “We have great admiration for artists who apply their creative talents in an effort to make the world a better place, and we seek to support and encourage them in whatever ways we can. That’s the fundamental motivation behind this new award.”
Over the past 20 years, Robson has refined a variety of techniques for turning plastic debris into art, transforming harmful waste destined for the landfill or the ocean into objects of beauty and lasting value.
Robson’s commitment to stemming the tide of plastic pollution extends beyond her own artistic practice and includes supporting fellow artists engaged in similar work, through Project Vortex, which she founded in 2009; creating educational resources for students and schools; and speaking about the capacity of art and artists to help solve one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.