Robert Loughlin

Robert Loughlin was born in Alameda, California on a Naval base. At an early age, Loughlin became interested in art and culture, he spent many hours of his childhood drawing and listening to the family's radio. Loughlin left school after the sixth grade to take care of his brothers and sisters. During the late 1960s, Robert had already established a love for design and for being a free-thinker. He lived in a Geodesic Dome in Canyon, California and was part of the Berkeley Riots. In the 1970s, Robert opened two stores in San Francisco, California, specializing in American Industrial Design. During the early 1970s period, Robert was a pioneer in Mid-Century Design. Robert was also co-owner of the first punk supply store in San Francisco and became lead singer in his no- wave band, The Decorators along with the artist Arch Connelly. Robert relocated to Miami Beach, Florida where he opened another design store. Robert began painting and doing graffiti art around the late 1970s and early 1980s. Loughlin decided to move to New York City in the early 1980s where he met his partner, Gary Carlson at “Boots and Saddles," a gay bar in Manhattan. Robert Loughlin became part of the burgeoning art and social scene in New York City in the 1980s.

Robert opened the Executive Gallery in New York and Arch Connelly served as gallery director. Robert quickly developed a reputation and became connected with New York high society. Robert was a renowned furniture “picker" as he had the eye for vintage and modern design furniture. Robert was often called in to uniquely decorate upscale Northeast homes with haute design. Robert's regular clients included Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Robert Mapplethorpe. Andy Warhol affectionately referred to Robert as the "Chairman" since Robert had sold Andy so many chairs for his factory. Robert began showing his artwork and was noticed by the New York art world scene. Robert's signature icon, the squared-jaw man with a smoke called the "Brute" has appeared all over New York city's signs, doors and walls. Robert Loughlin's collectors include some of the biggest names in the New York and Hollywood, encompassing the design, fashion and the art world. Significant collectors have included Robert Isabell, Joel Schumacher, Helmut Lang, Jack Spade, Donald Baechler, Thomas Jayne, Andy Warhol, Jean Michael Basquiat and Robert Mapplethorpe.