Robert Dowd (American, 1936-1996) "Sawbuck"
Acrylic on canvas. Signed 'Dowd' (lower right), titled 'Sawbuck', and dated ''65' (on reverse).
30 x 40 in.

Robert Dowd (American, 1936-1996)
Robert Dowd was an American artist, who also painted under the name Robert O’Dowd. After his discharge from the US Marines in 1957, he entered the Society of Arts and Crafts/Center for Creative Studies, Detroit Michigan, where he studied painting. In 1958-59 he began drawing common objects, including ‘Stop’ signs. His work first appeared in an Art in America article on the “Young Artists Group” in Detroit. In 1960, he moved to San Francisco and began working on his first images of postage stamps. In 1961, he moved to Los Angeles and began work on his currency paintings. By 1962, he was getting attention for his groundbreaking paintings of common objects. Among the country, several other artists were experimenting with this new concept and in 1962 he was invited to show his work at the Pasadena Art Museum. The 1960s were a time of social unrest and the FBI and government thought anybody who was anti-establishment should be investigated and persecuted despite the right of freedom of expression. Unfortunately for Dowd, his fascination with painting currency caught the attention of the Secret Service. Painting currency in those days was considered counterfeiting, even if intended as a spoof. This certainly hurt his career, so he switched back to painting postage stamps but continued to paint currency in private.

No in-paint or restoration.