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The name Robert Stark and his signature red cat boat paintings have long been synonymous with the island of Nantucket.   Stark’s ethereal seascapes are masterful manipulations of hues and tones that speak to his identity as a modern-day Luminist.  While his works often depict specific Nantucket locations, they depart from the confines of reality to offer viewers a dream-like interpretation of the island.

Robert Starks’ personal history with the island began with his grandparents, who were lifelong summer residents. In 1942, his father was stationed on Nantucket with the U.S. Coast Guard, and his family became permanent residents.  Stark graduated from Nantucket High School and went on to play minor league baseball, a sport he shared a deep connection with and explored frequently as a subject for his work   His painting, Willie Going For Three, is part of the permanent collection at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

During the Korean War, Stark enlisted with the U.S. Navy.  Upon discharge, he purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange where he worked for seventeen years as a floor trader.   He subsequently returned to his home in Nantucket to pursue his passion for the arts and a quieter pace of life. 

His now iconic red catboat paintings have been avidly collected by island visitors from around the world.  Stark took great pride in his family’s place in the centuries-old New England tradition of making the land and sea one’s own.  With his refined style and unique voice, Stark translated the land and sea he inhabited into unforgettable works of art.

Robert Stark’s paintings will always remain an important part of art history and the history of the Island of Nantucket.

We will miss him dearly.