“Bedouin Life in Egypt from Metal Etching Plates”

Robert Gutowski is a printmaker and visual artist. His work is deeply influenced by his years in Egypt and his lifelong engagement with drawing and teaching.

Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1940, Gutowski began his artistic path by studying Art Education and Printmaking at SUNY Buffalo. He graduated in 1961. Later, he earned his MFA in Printmaking from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, in 1971. His professional career spans over six decades. It includes work as a Peace Corps volunteer and educator across Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Artistic approach and recent exhibition

Gutowski’s prints reflect his long-standing interest in capturing the atmosphere of everyday life. He does so through a refined economy of line and movement. His series Bedouin Life in Egypt from Metal Etching Plates—exhibited at El Zapote in 2020—features etchings inspired by his travels to El Arish. This is a town near the Red Sea. The works also reflect his observations of local customs such as the Eid feast and traditional coffee ceremonies.

He draws from his sketchbooks to translate gestures, textures, and interactions into visual compositions. These emphasize structure over embellishment. As a result, the images feel both spontaneous and intentional.

“In these pieces I have tried to capture the unique beauty and distinctive character of the market, with its interactions and negotiations,” the artist writes. This body of work does not merely document specific moments. Rather, it reflects Gutowski’s intention to observe and interpret daily activities with sensitivity and restraint.

Drawing, teaching, and lived experience

While many of Gutowski’s works are shaped by his time in Egypt, his creative process is also rooted in daily drawing. He carries a sketchbook wherever he goes. Over the years, this habit has produced more than 60 books filled with visual notes and ideas.

These drawings often serve as the foundation for his prints. They reflect his discipline as well as his ongoing curiosity. In addition to making art, Gutowski has spent much of his life teaching. He worked at the International School of Bangkok and Cairo American College.

His printmaking practice is shaped by years of cultural exchange and life abroad. Today, he continues working daily in his studio in Phoenix/Sun City, Arizona.