Robert Villamagna: "The Adventures of Bobby Bigtown"

The Adventures of Bobby Bigtown by Robert Villamagna is the featured exhibition at The Gallery at Towngate April 11-May 23, 2025.

An artists’ reception takes place from 6-8pm Friday, April 11. The event is free and open to the public.

Artist Statement

“I create assemblages and metal collages, primarily using found objects, vintage photographs, and repurposed lithographed metal. This printed metal, or “tin”, comes from deconstructed product containers, old signage, and vintage metal toys. I grew up in Appalachia, primarily the Ohio River rustbelt.

From the time I was a preschooler I have had a mark-making tool in my hand. However, the rustbelt, in general, is not a supportive environment for one who wishes to make art his life’s work. Growing up, almost every adult male in our neighborhood was a steel worker, miner, or similar blue color worker. I ended up working in the steel mill myself for thirteen years. The themes, narratives, and images that you see in this exhibition come from my own life experiences, as well as those suggested by the found objects or vintage photographs that I acquire.

I am very passionate about working with found materials, especially those items that show use, wear and rust. I love stuff with character. I often find myself wondering about the person who made these materials, who used them, who held them. I like to think that a part or energy of that person is still contained in these things, and now it’s transferred into the artwork. I’m giving that discarded piece of metal, or that old object, a new life, a different life. I am thrilled that I can use this stuff and that it becomes a part of my creative process.

These various materials are every bit as much of my palette as is a tray of oils are for a painter. For me, walking through a flea market is like walking through a well-stocked art materials store. The flea market is my palette.”

Robert Villamagna

About Robert Villamagna

Artist Robert Villamagna works in assemblage, repurposed lithographed metal, paper collage, and mixed-media. Villamagna’s work has been exhibited at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Andy Warhol Museum, ARC Gallery (Chicago), Penn State’s Robeson Gallery, Pittsburgh Center of the Arts, Erie Museum of Art, the Ohio Craft Museum, Huntington Museum of Art, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, West Virginia Culture Center, Society of Contemporary Craft (Pittsburgh), and the Chautauqua Institution.

Six of Villamagna’s works are in the State of West Virginia Permanent Collection. Villamagna was awarded the 2016 West Virginia Artist of the Year, the 2016 Harshman Distinguished Arts Award by the City of Wheeling Arts & Cultural Commission, and is a 2017 Inductee of the Wheeling Hall of Fame. Villamagna was an Assistant Professor of Art for 22 years at West Liberty University in West Virginia. In addition to his teaching duties, Villamagna was Director of the WLU Nutting Gallery, curating over 160 exhibitions.

Robert and his wife, Chris Villamagna, are currently the exhibition curators for The Gallery at 2265 in Wheeling, WV.

The Gallery at Towngate

Towngate Theatre is well known in Wheeling and its surrounding communities for community theater productions, children’s theater, concerts, ballet, film screenings, spoken word and other performing arts events. But did you know that Towngate is also an art gallery?

The Gallery at Towngate is a small space gallery that features the work of regional artists and focuses on community engagement, inclusion, and the mingling of visual and performing arts.

2024-25 The Gallery at Towngate Exhibit Schedule:

August 30–November 17, 2024
Moon Shadows and Nightlights: The Work of Dennis Jones and Savannah Schroll Guz

January 18–February 15, 2025
West Liberty University Creative Arts Therapy Student Exhibition

February 21-March 29, 2025
Ceramic exhibit in conjunction with Ceramics Take Over Wheeling

April 11–May 23, 2025
Robert Villamagna “The Adventures of Bobby Bigtown”

June 6–August 12, 2025
Text Art Exhibit