The importance of self-promotion: Knowing how to effectively promote your work and build a personal brand is just as important as creating the art itself. Understanding how to use social media, attend exhibitions, and network with other artists and potential clients can open many doors in an artistic career.
As a part of our series about “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist” I had the pleasure of interviewing Robin Antar.
Robin Antar is an accomplished American sculptor known for her hyper-realistic stone carvings that capture everyday objects and cultural symbols, earning her national recognition and accolades. Her work has been exhibited in prestigious venues, and she has received honors such as the Allied Artists of America’s Gold Medal Award and a grant from the Newhouse Foundation, along with numerous shows and gallery representations. Beyond her own creations, she is passionate about educating and inspiring future generations by inviting students to her studio to learn the importance of artistic expression. Her company name is REALISM In Stone Inc.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
When I was a little girl growing up in a small town, I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I never enjoyed academics in school and didn’t have any friends because I struggled in that environment. Art became my refuge, a way to express myself and survive the often-cruel atmosphere of school. I always knew that my path would be through creativity.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
When I was 16, I moved to New York, and a high school teacher recognized my talent for form, encouraging me to draw and sculpt. From the moment I put chisel to stone in 1974, I was hooked. Moving to a new place without friends, art became my passion and refuge. My parents supported me, letting me set up a stone workshop in their basement, even though it filled the house with white dust. One of my early pieces, created on Halloween night, was a sculpture of lovers. Now, in memory of my parents, I’m enlarging that piece to 5 feet tall.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
One of the most meaningful moments of my career was creating a sculpture in memory of my youngest son, David, which was placed at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, a behavioral health clinic. The sculpture was installed in their park, known as the Green Space, and patients deeply connected with David’s story, which was inscribed on a plaque at the base. I received letters from several patients who shared that touching the sculpture as they left the treatment center had become a tradition for them. This gesture symbolized strength and a hope never to return. It transformed the piece into something profoundly personal and impactful, making it one of the most touching and rewarding experiences of my life and career.
While working on this piece for the hospital, I found myself consumed by my personal emotions. I was in such a rage, by my feelings, that I abandoned all typical technique and planning. I attacked the marble with diamond blades and chisels, ignoring every rule. Normally, when creating a core hole, you need a spotter to guide the angle and a water hose to prevent the tool from overheating. I ignored all of that. I grabbed my 5-inch diamond blade and went at the stone from the opposite side — simply because it was easier to reach. When I finished, the hole ended up 8 inches lower than I’d planned. But to my surprise, the negative space formed the shape of an arrow, as if pointing the way forward. Sometimes, mistakes lead to something even better than you’d intended.”
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
Right now, I’m working on a piece that reflects what I see in the world around me, and I’m depicting it as a bag of trash. Every time I listen to the news, it seems to be filled with reports of shootings, protests, or the takeover of institutions and museums. I find this deeply unsettling, and that’s why I chose to represent the scene and situation as a bag of trash, carving it out of a 1,200-pound piece of Carrara marble.
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
The most interesting person I’ve ever come across was Louise Bourgeois. She was a sculptor and my instructor at the School of Visual Arts back in 1976. She lived a long life, passing away around age 105, and she used to host an artist salon in her apartment. About 10–15 years ago, we would gather there, each bringing a piece of work to discuss. I’ll never forget one conversation we had. I asked her if she was creative in the kitchen when she was in the creative art mode, producing work — because, for me, my kitchen is like an extension of my studio, a creative space where I experiment with food instead of stone. She laughed and told me, ‘When I sculpt, I don’t usually cook,’ which was funny because I could relate to that too.
Then she shared a story I’ll never forget. She once hosted a dinner party with a large rack of lamb — a real luxury for an artist to serve. When her guests began talking and ignored the food, she picked up the entire platter and threw it out the window! It was such a strange and bold story, but it spoke to her personality. That was one of the most memorable stories I’ve ever heard from another artist.
Where do you draw inspiration from? Can you share a story about that?
As a sculptor and artist observer, I take in my surroundings and express them in stone. Whether through abstract forms, realistic objects, or a combination of both, I channel what I see into my work. One example is my piece US Constitution in a Knot, a giant knot carved from Carrara marble with the words and articles of the Constitution engraved on it. This knot is held up by my hands, also carved from marble, symbolizing the tensions and conflicts that seem to bind us all. It’s my statement: everyone seems to be fighting, tangled in a knot, and these are my hands holding that weight.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
I’ve used my success to bring goodness to the world in various ways. I invite schoolchildren to visit my studio, teaching them about the craft of sculpting and the importance of expressing their feelings through any creative process, whether it be stone, paper, ink, or singing. I also enjoy creating fun, whimsical sculptures, like a 2,000-pound bag of potato chips carved from an original 6,000-pound block. It measures 5’ x 3’ x 3’ and has about 40 chips spilling out of it. My hope is to place this piece in front of a cancer center or a hospital to bring a smile and laughter to those who need it most.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. Be aware of the toxicity of materials: It’s essential to understand which materials can be hazardous, how to identify them, and the importance of ensuring that your studio environment is safe. Always wear the correct safety gear to protect yourself while working.
2. Bookkeeping and financial management: Learning how to manage money, keep track of expenses, and properly budget for projects is crucial for sustaining a career as an artist.
3. The business side of art: Having more classes focused on the business aspects of running an art practice, including marketing, networking, and negotiating contracts, would have been invaluable for preparing to navigate the professional world.
4. Building resilience and handling rejection: It would have been helpful to understand that the art world can be competitive and tough, and that resilience is key. Learning how to handle rejection and keep pushing forward despite setbacks is essential for long-term success.
5. The importance of self-promotion: Knowing how to effectively promote your work and build a personal brand is just as important as creating the art itself. Understanding how to use social media, attend exhibitions, and network with other artists and potential clients can open many doors in an artistic career.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I’d say Follow your passions. If you love what you do, then you never really work a day in your life. Be it art or something else……
We have been blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this.
I would love to have lunch at McDonald’s with President Donald Trump to show him the MEGA hat I carved out of Marble.
I made this piece during his first presidential race.
What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Instagram at @RobinAntar
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Robin Antar of Realism in Stone: 5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me When I First Became An Artist was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.