Robert Purser

(American, born 1940, died 2009)

Artist Robert Purser (1940-2009) explored many different materials and processes over his career as an artist and educator. He was known for his work in textiles and for architecturally driven, quilt-like sculptures made of found objects and sewn paper. Bellevue College (in Bellevue, Western Washington) hired him as their first art instructor, and he taught there for forty-four years.

Purser received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Washington University. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he served in the Peace Corps doing craft development work in Peru, South America. He then received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1966. He received a PhD in architectural education from the University of Oregon in 1978.