Biography from AskART:
| Sculptor, Robert Davidson at age eight was an apprentice to his father, Indiana artist Oscar Davidson. Robert's art studies continued when he was sixteen at the John Herron School of Art under Clifton Wheeler, Paul Hadley and William Forsyth.
He also studied at the Art Institute of Chicago, School of American Sculpture in New York City and Bavarian Fine Arts Academy in Munich, Germany. He studied in this country and abroad with Robert Baille, Anton Bauer, Otto Korn, Joseph Wackerle. Myra Richards, Edmond Amateis, Alfonso Iannelli and Albin Polasek.
Davidson's wife, Maryetta Mauck Davidson, also was an Indiana ceramics artist. Both graduated from the John Herron Art Institute in 1926. The couple eventually moved to Saratoga Springs, New York where in 1934, he began to teach art at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. until retiring in 1972.
During his career he was a member of the Indiana Artists Club, and the Chicago Artist Association.
His works were part of the 1976 exhibit "200 Years of Indiana Art" at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and he did the reliefs on the front of the Shortridge High School building. In addition his work is included in the Colony Artists Association, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Smithsonian and Skidmore College.
Awards include the Harry Johnson prize, Hoosier Salon, 1930; first prize, Indiana State Fair, 1923, 1924; and Art Association Prize at the Herron Art Institute, 1925.
Sources:
The Indianapolis News, August 18, 1982: section C.4,Page 55: Obituaries
1930 Art Guide to Indiana, p.149
(Various local news clippings)
Information courtesy of Jennifer L. Hehman, IUPUI- University Library
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