Born in Sydney and raised in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Robert Owen began to take an interest in sculpting after witnessing his electrical engineer father craft hand-made toys for Christmas. It wasn’t until 1958 when Robert enrolled into the National Art School in Sydney, did he realise that his passion for art was a career he wanted to pursue. After being taught sculpture under Lyndon Dadswell and graduating in 1962, Robert moved to Greece during 1963-1966 and spent a decade in London.

Upon returning to Sydney in 1975, Robert relocated to Melbourne in 1988 to become an Associate Professor and the position as the Head of the Sculpture department at RMIT University until 2001. Robert’s work spans across a whole range of mediums; sculpture, painting, installation, photography and public commissions with his various artworks earning him world-wide recognition.

In 1978, Robert, John Davis and Ken Unsworth represented Australia in the Venice Biennale and in 1969 won a John Moore’s Liverpool Exhibition 7 UK Prize. His collaborations and public commissions has earned him major design awards, such as his Denton Corker Marshall collaboration on Melbourne’s Webb Bridge. Robert’s diversity for over 50 years in his career has earned him the lifelong service award to the visual arts in 2003 with the Australian Council Visual Arts/Crafts Emeritus Award.