Artist’s Statement

“…I am fascinated by the unlimited possibilities in exploring and expressing space…By slipping at least one other dimension into my compositions, I try to encourage this space-awareness. I want to suspend the viewer in this space so that nothing else distracts him from a kind of pure contemplation or involvement, if only for a few minutes. And by utilizing this spatial concept, I believe it is possible for my paintings to present new facets and levels of experience to the viewer each time they are seen - thus becoming more lasting and meaningful creative expressions… I have never copied any artist or followed any of the popular styles - Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Non-Objective, Pop Art, etc. I’ve always preferred recognizable figures, objects and symbols combined with fantasy. I guess my work could be described as ‘realistic fantasy’ or ‘fantastic realism’…”

Animation created by Robert McClay for “The Fine Art of Goofing Off” T.V. Series on PBS, 1972

Biography

ROBERT McCLAY was born on December 15, 1932, in Hollywood, California and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. McClay began formal art classes at San Francisco State College in 1952. In 1954 he left school to travel, but later returned to S.F. State while working professionally, and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, the first in his family to earn a college degree.

From 1954 to 1960, he visited Europe multiple times to live, explore and paint. European art, architecture, streets and vistas of European cities are recurring motifs in McClay’s work. The cultural currents of San Francisco in the late 1950s and 1960s left a lasting mark on his work. Immersed in Beat culture and the Cool Jazz scene, he absorbed influences from Zen philosophy, psychedelic thought, and changing social values.

Selected exhibitions include the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, civic and public spaces in Daly City, Pacifica and Twentynine Palms, CA, the Laguna Beach Art Association Gallery, the Monterey Jazz Festival Art Exhibition, and Galleria l’Obelisco in Rome. Later in life, McClay divided his time between Daly City, California and a Mojave Desert cabin near Twentynine Palms, exhibiting and selling his paintings in both areas.

Robert McClay’s paintings continue to be celebrated for their intricate symbolism, narrative depth, and imaginative richness. His work exemplifies American fantastic realism, merging personal experience with cultural and historical influences. Across six decades, he created visual architectures that invite viewers into layered worlds of memory, myth, and imagination, establishing his enduring legacy as a true California visionary.

“My Life as an Artist”

A Biographical video about Robert McClay produced entirely from archival photos & footage, images of his artwork and clips of film animation he created for television.

ROBERT McCLAY CV

Exhibitions

2006, ‘07 A Roadside Attraction Gallery, 29 Palms, CA

2006, ‘07 Art Source Gallery, Reno, NV

2002, ‘03, ‘04 Pacifica Community Center, Pacifica CA

2001 Coastal Arts Museum, Half Moon Bay, CA

1999 Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA

1998, ‘99; 2000-‘03 Park Center Gallery, Joshua Tree, CA

1998, ‘99; 2000-‘07 Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica, CA

1992, ‘97, ‘98; 2001-’06 Twentynine Palms Art Gallery, 29 Palms, CA

1989 Society of Western Artists, Oakland, CA

1984 Lone Wolf Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1982, ‘83, ’87; 2002, ‘03, ‘04 Octagon Gallery, City Hall, Daly City, CA

1980 Capitol Arts Program, Washington, D.C.

1966 Laguna Beach Art Association Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

1962 Fourth Winter Invitational Exhibition, Palace of Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA

1962 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1959 Telegraph Hill Gallery, San Francisco, CA

1959 First Annual Art Exhibit of the Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey, CA

1958 Galleria l’Obelisco, Rome, Italy

1958 Four Winds Gallery, Sausalito, CA

1956-‘59 Annual San Francisco Art Festivals, San Francisco, CA

His work is also included in a number of private collections in San Francisco, Hollywood, Philadelphia, Dallas, Tacoma, New York, Rome and Paris

Education

1971 Bachelor of Fine Arts, San Francisco State College

Professional Experience

1967 - 1975 Art Director, KQED Television, San Francisco: on-air graphics and promotion art for “Newsroom”, lay-out, paste-up and cover art on “KQED Focus” magazine & program guide, stage design and backdrops for TV productions, animation on “The Fine Art of Goofing Off”, a 3-part TV series aired nationally on PBS in 1972.

1963 - 1970 Freelance work in San Francisco includes: Psychedelic & Astrology-themed poster series for Funky Features and Wespac; sketched nude models for live nightclub audiences at Mr. Wonderful Nightclub.

1955 - 1965 Promotion Artist, San Francisco Chronicle: Ads, art for promotional campaigns, cartoon illustration for daily column, “Mystery of Dreams”, portrait of Juan Bautista de Anza commissioned by the Chronicle and the City of San Francisco and presented as a gift to the community of Arispe, Sonora, Mexico.

Press & Bibliography

“What do you think of these works of art?”, The Desert Trail, November 3, 2005

“Fog Fest Donates a Painting”, Pacifica Tribune, June 16, 2004

Debbie Grech, “Artist’s Receptions this Friday”, Pacifica Tribune, May 26, 1999

Oya Johnson, “The Fantasy World of Robert McClay”, Magical Blend, April, 1989

Les Kranz, The California Art Review, 1989 Edition

Dave Madden, “City selects its logos for anniversary”, Daly City Record, December 11, 1985

J.P. Cahn, “Considerate Man”, S.F. Press Club Scoop Annual, 1984 Edition

T.H. Watkins and R.R. Olmsted, “Mirror of the dream: An illustrated history of San Francisco”, Scrimshaw Press, 1976

Terrence O’Flaherty, “Your Time is Worth Wasting”, San Francisco Chronicle, August 29, 1972

Alfred Frankenstein, “Abstract Expressionism Takes a Second Wind”, San Francisco Chronicle, January 6, 1963

Dean Wallace, “Alert Cops Spotlight Some Excellent Art”, San Francisco Chronicle, July 13, 1959

Ephemera

A newspaper article about North Hollywood student Bob McClay, who received a state scholarship to the University of California. The article features two black-and-white photographs of Bob McClay, showing him as a young man in a suit and tie. The article highlights his achievements, extracurricular activities, and his role as student body president.

Above: Valley Times, 1950

Photograph of Robert McClay at the Phelan Art Awards Exhibition 1959 standing next to his painting "Night City", winner of that year's "Phelan Art Award." The photo is black and white.
McClay looking up at the camera while carrying his painting, "Night City" on the staircase of his San Francisco apartment, with cars and houses visible in the background.
San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper articles from 1959 about McClay's painting "Beat Madonna" at the Telegraph Hill Gallery.
A newspaper page with an announcement for Robert McClay's art exhibition at Telegraph Hill Art Gallery, San Francisco from July 5 to August 1, 1959, including an image of a painting and a review of McClay's artwork, highlighting his style and themes.

Above: S.F. Chronicle, July, August, 1959

"Pictorial Living" cover page from The San Francisco Examiner in 1960, including a photo of Robert McClay's painting "Tangier" and a brief bio about him.
A black and white photo of McClay with Jayne Mansfield and Clint Eastwood, taken for a San Francisco Chronicle promotion of the local event "Bagdad by the Bay" in 1962.
Photograph of McClay with his painting "Paris Cemetery" in 1961 with text about the artist, including his biography and artwork achievements.
Photograph of Robert McClay's painting "The Illustrated Man", inspired by the Ray Bradbury novel of the same name, and given to Bradbury as a gift in 1960.
Letter written by Ray Bradbury to Mr. McClay, dated October 26th, 1960, expressing gratitude for his gift of the painting "The Illustrated Man", inspired by Bradbury's own novel of the same name.

Above & Left: With Clint Eastwood & Jayne Mansfield, S.F. Chronicle Promo, 1962

Photo of McClay with Jayne Mansfield, Clint Eastwood, Tony Kent and others taken for a San Francisco Chronicle promotion of the local event "Bagdad by the Bay" in 1962.
Photo of Robert McClay painting a historical portrait of Juan Bautista de Anza in 1963.

Above: De Anza Portrait, 1963

Sunday Bonanza cover from the San Francisco Chronicle, dated February 23, 1964, featuring a photo of McClay's portrait of Juan Bautista de Anza.
Clipping from the S.F. Chronicle from September 27, 1963, with a photo of the De Anza Citizens' Committee presenting the portrait of Juan Bautista de Anza to the community of Arizpe, Sonora, Mexico.
Robert McClay in front of the Church of Our Lady of the Ascension in Arizpe, Mexico, in 1963.

Above: Arizpe, Mexico 1963

Photo of Robert McClay sketching a nude model for a nightclub act at "Mr. Wonderful" club in San Francisco in 1964.

Below: Mr. Wonderful Club, SF. 1964

Clipping dated from the San Francisco Chronicle dated August 29, 1972, with a review by Terrence O'Flaherty of "The Fine Art of Goofing Off", a KQED T.V. mini-series featuring animation by Robert McClay.
Photo of Robert McClay sketching a nude model for a nightclub act at "Mr. Wonderful" club in San Francisco in 1964.

Left: Review of “The Fine Art of Goofing Off”, a 3-part animated T.V. show created by Henry Jacobs, Bob McClay & Chris Koch (aired on PBS in 1972)

Photo of Page 1 of an article titled "The Fantasy World of Robert McClay" from Magical Blend Magazine, April 1989.

Left: Magical Blend Magazine, April, 1989 (cont.)

Photo of Page 2 of an article titled "The Fantasy World of Robert McClay" from Magical Blend Magazine, April 1989.

Left: Marin Scope, Twin Cities Times, News Pointer, Ross Valley Reporter, Ebb Tide - March, 1988

Right: Magical Blend Magazine, April, 1989

Newspaper page from The Desert Trail, May 5, 2005 featuring photos of artists Dan Chambliss and Robert McClay.
Photo of Page 3 of an article titled "The Fantasy World of Robert McClay" from Magical Blend Magazine, April 1989.
Photo of Page 4 of an article titled "The Fantasy World of Robert McClay" from Magical Blend Magazine, April 1989.

About RAMFAM Art

RAMFAM Art was established by Marina McClay to curate, display and re-expose fine artwork created by her late father, artist Robert McClay (“RAM”), to fine art lovers and collectors. RAMFAM Art’s inventory of unique acrylic paintings and drawings by RAM offers a wide-ranging representation of the evolving conceptual and stylistic phases of his career from the 1950s through the early 2000s.