Here, Look at Mine! Exhibition Records

John Nathaniel Robinson was born on February 8, 1912, in Georgetown, Washington DC. He moved to Anacostia as a child, in the late 1920s, where he was brought up by his grandparents Ignatius and Anna Barton. His schooling was cut short due to financial hardships faced by his family, and he was working in a garage where his grandfather was employed when a chance encounter brought his artistic skills to the attention of the chair of the art department at Howard University. Robinson then had the opportunity to receive training and instruction from professors James V. Herring and James A. Porter. Robinson displayed his art during outdoor art fairs in D.C. parks in the 1940s and later displayed his artwork at both the Howard University Gallery of Art and the Barnett Aden Gallery. Although he worked full-time at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Southeast D.C. for over three decades, he continuously nurtured his artistic creativity.  Robinson's work was part of the Sixteen Washington Artists exhibition at the Anacostia Community Museum in 1968. His connection to the museum remained strong throughout his life, and he actively participated in the District of Columbia Art Association (DCAA) to foster art as a vibrant and empowering influence in the community. He participated as a juror for the DCAA's 1978 exhibition.  As a painter, Robinson drew inspiration from his surroundings. He frequently depicted family members and people in his community, as well as scenes from his everyday life. His painting "Here, Look at Mine!" depicts eight of his eleven grandchildren gleefully drawing at the dining room table. Such intimate portraits and city scenes provide insight into the painter's life and environment, while also capturing the physical details and mood of neighborhoods around the city. Mr. Robinson passed away on October 17, 1994, at the age of 82.