Robert Bruce Thomas - Art and Design Curriculum Vitae

  • Robert Thomas studied for a BFA at the University of Nebraska majoring in metal sculpture and photography with minor studies in ceramics and printmaking. In his senior year he left Lincoln and moved to New York. He later entered Pratt Institute and received a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree.

  • As an Industrial Designer Rob has worked with many international corporations in the fields of Product Design, Retail Interiors, Space Planning and Exhibit Design. He launched his own art furniture studio in the early 90's with representation at over 20 dealers in the US and Japan. In 1993 His entire line of aluminum cloud tables was successfully licensed to the Lane Company.

  • Rob's furniture design, like his sculpture, is an investigation of materials and processes, growth and change. He uses a variety of approaches from various media disciplines and techniques ranging from the traditional to high-tech. These include everything from ancient patinas to hand applied holographic finishes, from modern 3D software and CNC technology to random matrices and the I Ching.

  • His online furniture concept, Klik Home, LLC, allows customers to participate in the design process by creating their own furniture choosing various parts, materials and finishes from Klik's vast "Lego Set" on the company's website. The parts are then produced and delivered to the customer for simple assembly using standard RTA technology.

Corporate Clients

Product Design

While at the firm of Andrew Kostanecki & Associates, New Canaan, CT:
  • AMF - Various Sporting Goods
  • IBM - Prototype of the original IBM PC
  • Stanley Tools - Series of hand planes in sintered metal technology
  • Timex - New watchband concept (named on patent application)
  • Kransco - 13' family racing sailboat - full size hull, rigging and scale model
Robert Bruce Thomas Design International, Richmond, VA:
  • Proctor/Silex - Cord management for small appliances
  • Tara Eyewear - Series of Men's Eyewear
  • Black & Decker - Series of rechargable products
  • Prism Marketing - 3D Demographics Microcomputer (hand wired using TTL Logic chips)
  • Roto-Hoe - Working Prototype of Lawn Vacuum/Chipper/Shredder

Retail Interiors, Space Planning, Exhibits and POP Displays:

  • Philip Morris
  • Carl Ziess Optical
  • The Commonwealth of Virginia Dept. of Parks and Recreation (Seashore State Park, Chippokes State Park Visitor's Centers - Interpretive Exhibits)
  • Reynolds Metals
  • Coca Cola Company USA
  • Circuit City Stores, Inc
  • CarMax

Interactive Computer Graphics and Web Design:

  • IBM, Atlanta
  • IBM White Plains
  • CSX
  • Glaxo Pharmaceuticals
  • Pacific Bell Telephone
  • Virginia Department of Social Services
  • PrimeCo
  • Reynolds Metals Creative Services Dept.
  • Long & Foster Realtors
  • TeeTimes.com.

Works of Art

Exhibitions

Photographs

  • Refocus University of Iowa 1966 - 69
  • .Church of Our Choice. Sheldon Art Gallery 1968
  • Focus Gallery Omaha, NE 1969

Film

  • Church of Our Choice presents 'Just Good Meat',
    an evening of film, music and photographs
    Sheldon Art Gallery 1968

Permanent Collections

Photographs

  • Photographs Sheldon Art Gallery, Lincoln Nebraska 1968

Grants

Film

  • Church of Our Choice awarded the first grant 1967
    offered for film from the Nebraska Arts Council

Furniture

Juried Exhibitions

  • International Contemporary Furniture Fair 1993
    Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY
  • Hand Work Shop Arts and Design Show 1993
    Richmond, VA
  • International Contemporary Furniture Fair 1992
    Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY
  • Peninsula Art Center, 1993
    Newport News, VA
  • Hand Work Shop Arts and Design Show 1992
    Richmond, VA
  • International Contemporary Furniture Fair 1991
    Jacob Javits Center, New York, NY

Private Collections

  • Hugo & Mariet Van Der Heide, Nyack, NY
  • Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Stiles, Newport News, VA
  • Carl & Margaret Pfieffer, Washington, DC
  • Stanley & Ruth Liss, Friendship Heights, MD
  • Dr. & Mrs. Paul Masmanian, Richmond, VA
  • Dr. & Mrs. Michael Strachan, Midlothian, VA
  • Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Desaulniers, Williamsburg, VA

Commercial Galleries and Dealers

  • American West Chicago, IL
  • Axis Twenty Atlanta, GA
  • Belson Showroom San Francisco, CA
  • Elements Richmond, VA
  • Focus Ltd. Philadelphia, PA
  • Light Spot Salt Lake City, NV
  • Palmer-Rae Gallery Norfolk, VA
  • Randolph & Hein New York, Los Angeles, San Diego
  • Sansar Washington, DC, Chevy Chase, MD
  • Zeising Assoc. Troy, MI
  • Euro-Office Tikaku Tokyo, Japan

EDUCATION:

  • Candidate Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 1965 - 69
  • Graduated Bachelor of Industrial Design from Pratt Institute - 1984
  • Non-Matriculated student - Computer Science courses - VCU 1986
  • Accepted as Graduate Candidate, School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Visual Communications, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1987

TEACHER / LECTURER

  • Adjunct Instructor, Elementary Furniture Design, VCU Department of Crafts and Material Studies, 2005
  • Guest Lecturer - VCU Crafts - Symposium: "Critical Issues in Contemporary Craft IV - "Embracing Technology", 2005
  • .Crossover. Symposium on Art, Craft and Design, Virginia Museum of Art in Conjunction with The Hand Workshop, 1992