04/09/2026
Lenkiewicz Arts and Jewellery 07464631671
ROBERT LENKIEWICZ TO DANGEROUS FOR THE WOKE ART WORLD?
I would argue that artists have a golden ten years when they create their best work. This is important because it is this period that they are mostly judged by.
This is critical for an artists legacy. If this doesn’t happen then they are often lost in history or even worse misunderstood.
In the case of Robert Lenkiewicz has he become remembered for his best paintings?
I believe he has not and it will take time for this to change. I think his peak artistically was the 1970’s and early 1980’s.
His best legacy is actually very complex covering many themes and ideas and styles. He is not a traditional artist his interests are in complex human behaviour and personal freedom but he uses traditional painting styles. This all makes him difficult to understand.
However his work gradually lost a lot of its creative uniqueness, ideas and technical strength in the 1990’s in my view. Of course this is only a general statement and there are definitely exceptions.
There are a lot of reasons for this. For example the later works tend to be more commercial and to have more decorative appeal. It is also more technically appealing to a photographic style. Most importantly the subjects are often attractively seductive depictions of women.
All of the above traditionally fulfil more commercial and decorative tastes and are regarded by the art community as lacking in artistic depth.
Of course this is a huge and contradictory subject and my point is not really meant as a criticism but instead a general observation about my personal opinions and preferences but also an explanation for Lenkiewicz’s inability as yet to fully break into the ivory towers of the top art world where artists reputations are global and paintings sell for millions.
It’s a strange thing as I am regularly confronted with admirers who seem personally offended and frustrated if not even confused by the lack of support and attention by the professional art community in Robert Lenkiewicz. Particularly in Plymouth. This is I am also very frustrated by.
I do believe the problem actually goes both ways.
The art world is too ‘woke’ for Lenkiewicz. Or perhaps timid and bound by their own political and visual tastes. I believe this is undeniable. His skills, passion and commitment to taboo subjects is either beyond them or frightens them.
Although from his side it is clear to me he did have a period where his work was artistically repetitive and in some ways lacking in depth.
However this misunderstanding is still not a good enough explanation for the lack of attention from the established art world of academia, critics and galleries whose role it is to bring to the public an artists story.
Because firstly most artists have bad periods of output. These are generally ignored and the cream rises to the top. But most importantly the quality and artistic legacy is very significant and provocative and therefore I think given time his value as an important British artist will be recognised and his story explored more deeply. Moreover most people I speak to agree that his reputation will grow and is actually developing. His reputation is still strong and interest in him is high. I myself am contacted daily and visited by both the general public and writers, academics and journalists interested in his legacy.
Reuben Lenkiewicz 2026
