Bob Szantyr Explores Human Experience Through Diverse Artistic Expressions

A Journey Into The Intricacies Of Art And Community

Bob Szantyr discusses his artistic journey, multidisciplinary approaches, and the importance of community support in creating meaningful art.

Bob Szantyr emerges as a compelling voice in the contemporary art scene, seamlessly blending various media to explore the intricacies of human experience. With a rich background anchored in personal and collective narratives, Szantyr’s work is a testament to his keen understanding of the language embedded within the objects and images that surround us. His artistic journey, marked by dedication and exploration, has led him to create pieces that resonate deeply with viewers, revealing the values, sentiments, and boundaries that shape our lives.

Having exhibited his work internationally, including a recent impressive solo show at Auxiliary Projects in Brooklyn, Szantyr demonstrates a remarkable ability to engage with diverse audiences through his thought-provoking installations. His multidisciplinary approach not only showcases his technical skills but also highlights his innovative use of found objects, sculpture, painting, and digital media, creating a dialogue that invites reflection and connection.

Bob Szantyr’s innovative work challenges viewers to connect with their surroundings, reflecting deep insights into human values and experiences.

As we delve into this interview, we gain insight into Szantyr’s creative process, his experiences as an artist, and his vision for future projects. His philosophy of collaboration and community underscores the values that drive his practice, serving as an inspiring reminder of the power of generosity and support in the artistic journey. Join us as we explore the dynamic world of Bob Szantyr, an artist whose work not only captivates but challenges us to reconsider the meanings we assign to the everyday objects in our lives.

Can you describe your artistic or professional background and inspiration for your work?

There’s a language inherent in the objects and images people surround themselves with and I’m fascinated by it. I’ve learned a lot from it—these collections betray our needs, our affections, our boundaries, and our values. I make work that points at that. I was pretty young when I decided I wanted to make art as my profession. Everything since then has been working toward that—school, day jobs, and a lot of time and effort from me and my partner. 

“There’s a language inherent in the objects and images people surround themselves with and I’m fascinated by it.” – Bob Szantyr

What are some of the projects or events you are currently working on?

This past year my partner and I moved both home and studio up to the Hudson Valley, and the studio’s finally fully up and running again. I’ve been playing catch-up mostly, but I’m particularly excited about a new sculpture I’m in the early stages of, as it would be my second large-scale outdoor sculpture. The first was installed this past summer in a group show at Mother-In-Law’s in Germantown, New York. It was a really exciting, funny, and well-rounded show curated by Jacob Rhodes of Field Projects and artist Jessica Hargreaves, who runs Mother-In-Law’s.

“Access felt powerful!” – Bob Szantyr

How do you incorporate multidisciplinary approaches into your work or campaigns?

I usually have a lot of irons in a lot of fires. I worked this way in college, trying to take as many studio classes as I could to pick up practical skills…and to gain access to as many tools and facilities as possible. Access felt powerful! It came in really handy immediately after school when I was spending much of my time working in unrelated fields to pay rent and student loans. I was able to continue making things and maintain studio momentum by working whenever I could—nights, weekends, subway commutes. I used what was accessible to me: computers, paper and ink, smartphones put a camera in my hands at all times, and 3D printers became my robotic studio assistants. Eventually all of this coalesced into a practice, and often these various media connect in some way within individual works.

“Keep your community close and show up for people.” – Bob Szantyr

Can you share the story behind one of your most memorable projects?

My solo show back in 2023 at Auxiliary Projects is very important to me. Auxiliary Projects is an artist-run space in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, in the very capable hands of Jennifer Dalton, Jennifer McCoy, Kevin McCoy, and Cindy Pound. I was given a lot of freedom within the space, and we ended up with a very cohesive collection of over two hundred sculptures, paintings, and drawings. It was the largest undertaking I could have imagined, but it was incredibly true to my practice these days—everything kind of spilled over into everything else, and the volume of work offered many entry points for viewers. Even though it only contained a few years of work, it felt like a mid-life retrospective, and I loved spending time there with friends, colleagues, and family with whom I’d also shared the past two decades in New York.

How can someone collaborate with you on future initiatives or creative ventures?

Just reach out! I’m always open to talk about a new project and helping where I can. 

Are there any upcoming exhibitions, speaking engagements, or workshops featuring your work?

I can’t give details yet, but I’m working on something for the summer. I’d be so grateful if you’ll keep an eye out. I’ll share more as soon as I can.

How do you see the role of technology or innovation shaping the art or marketing fields today?

I spent more than a decade working in digital marketing, including several years working in machine learning and AI-driven content generation, but that’s for a different interview! Relatively new technologies are generally welcome in my practice in some way or another, insofar as they add another shelf to the tool shed. Seemingly daily updates in technology provide solutions for things like production of content, sales, documenting provenance, and even providing access. Though from where I sit, it looks like those who are developing these technologies need to be wary of steamrolling the people upon whose labor and resources everything is built, and to innovate toward something more collectively useful than profit.

“Generosity and gratitude go a long way.” – Bob Szantyr

What advice would you give to newcomers or aspiring artists in your field?

Keep your community close and show up for people. Give whenever you can, ask for help when you need it. Generosity and gratitude go a long way. People will tell you to work hard, and you should, but remember that you’re not working on anything alone, ever.