Rob Pruitt

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Rob Pruitt (born 1964 in Washington, D.C.) is an American artist who works in painting, installation, and sculpture. He doesn’t have one style or medium, and he often makes work that feels personal and biographical. He grew up in Rockville, Maryland, and studied at the Corcoran College of Art and Design before transferring to Parsons School of Design in New York.

While in college, Pruitt lived at the Chelsea Hotel and spent a lot of time partying. He began showing work in the early 1990s with his collaborator Jack Early. After a controversial show at Leo Castelli Gallery, their partnership ended and he had few solo opportunities for several years, though he stayed active in group shows.

In 1998 he caused a stir with Cocaine Buffet at The Fifth International, a crowd-pleasing and provocative installation. The next year he had his first solo show, 101 Art Ideas You Can Do Yourself, a humorous take on conceptual art that used a list of instructions to create works.

In 2001 Pruitt started making the glittery panda paintings that would become his signature. He saw the panda as a way to address his own fame and public image. The paintings come in many versions and styles, all centering on the same subject.

Pruitt has done many other projects, including collaborations with fashion brands and large installations. He started the Flea Market in Gavin Brown’s space in 1999, turning the gallery into a social event where artists sold their work or things from home. He later turned shopping and objects into art through an eBay store and other projects.

In 2011 he created The Andy Monument, a tall chrome statue of Andy Warhol for the Public Art Fund. In 2013 he helped stage a charity party for MOCA that raised more than two million dollars. A panda painting sold at Christie’s for a record $315,000 at a charity auction that year. He has also made large-scale works that mix bold patterns with everyday objects.

Pruitt lives in New York City with his partner, artist Jonathan Horowitz, and continues to work with galleries Gavin Brown’s Enterprise and Massimo De Carlo. He also participates in art fairs and public projects, such as Desert X in 2017.