Biography

Robert Olszewski was born in 1945 in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. His natural interest in art developed early and was first demonstrated in painting and drawing. At age 16, he began winning awards for his work at local art shows, and was encouraged to pursue a career in art. In 1968 Robert graduated with BS in Art Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, married, and moved to Southern California. He wanted to live near a major US art center and teach. While teaching he painted in the summers an d at night. The security of teaching and the free time allowed him to experiment freely and develop his skills. He had his first one-man show at the Ryder Gallery on La Cienega Boulevard in Los Angeles at age 27.

At the same time he enjoyed his young family and made toys for his children to play with. Along with toys, he built a dollhouse for his daughter. This artistic act of love was his introduction to the world of miniatures. His interest in miniatures turned from playful to a serious exploration of miniature figurative works as a new medium of expression. After 11 years, Robert left teaching in 1978 and pursued miniature figurative work full-time. Within a year his work was receiving national attention. In 1979, at age 34, Robert was brought under exclusive contract with a major European porcelain company, Goebel, maker of the world famous M.I. Hummel figurines. Robert co-founded Goebel Miniatures Studios. As a master artist from 1979 to 1994, Robert oversaw the development of the modeling and painting studios, and watched the company grow from a staff of 4 painters to 65.

In 1993 a 30-year museum retrospective of his work was mounted at the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, California. In the same year Robert was named "Artist of the Year" by National Assoication of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED). In 1994, Robert left Goebel and established his owned Olszewski Studios and began exploring his art in a smaller setting. This new direction reflects his love of working in the small scale, his interest in European figurative porcelain, and his love of exploring and combining new materials. His move to an independent status leaves more time to pursue his art and address those areas he has been waiting to explore.

In 1995 the Walt Disney Company commissioned Robert Olszewski to make miniatures for their Enchanted Places Collection. In 1998 Robert was asked by Disney to create a Bugs Life jewelry box for 50 top executives who created Bugs Life. In 2000 Robert started the Storytime Collection, a miniature figurine collection of Disney stories.

In Storytime Collection, Robert has the rights to make figurines from 9 Disney stories. He will tell the story from beginning to end. He will make maximum of 4 figurines from each story per year. In 2001 he has been commissioned by the Disney Themed Parks to create a miniature figurine for the Disneyana Convention. He is making them with all the know-how of working in the miniature figurative field for 23 years.

Robert Olszewski continues to move forward and win awards. In 1996 a second museum retrospective of his work was mounted at The Carole and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures in Los Angeles, California. In 1998 Robert received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a third retrospective of his artwork was mounted at the University Museum. In 2001 he won the coveted Award of Excellence from NALED for the Storytime Oh, My Slipper.

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