Robert Blodgett working on a mural of his — that covered a window at the Italian restaurant Bar Primi — that was stolen by the U-Haul thieves. (Courtesy Sono Kuwayama)
East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge, working with Hitomi Nakamura and James Rubio, created this Love Power mural on the Bowery between Great Jones and Fourth Street earlier this week. This was part of a larger effort organized by Bowery artist Sono Kuwayama. (Read about it here.) She received permission from store owners to paint on the plywood of the boarded-up businesses along this stretch of the Bowery. She then reached out to some local artists to have them create murals ...
This mural of Emmett Till, by Catt Caulley, with help from Robert Blodgett painting the background, was stolen off the front of the 310 Bowery Bar. (Courtesy Sono Kuwayama)
Catt Caulley working on her Emmett Till painting as Robert Blodgett looks on. Thieves recently stole this work off the front of 310 Bowery Bar. (Courtesy Sono Kuwayama)
In the Press
https://evgrieve.com/2020/06/scooter-laforges-love-power-on-bowery.html
https://brooklynrail.org/2020/07/artseen/Paintings-Boarded-Up
https://thevillagesun.com/thieves-stole-bowery-murals-but-not-their-spirit
https://thevillagesun.com/on-the-bowery-plywood-becomes-a-free-outdoor-gallery
https://evgrieve.com/2020/08/public-art-as-protest-debuts-at-howl.html
https://streetartnyc.org/blog/2020/08/16/bringing-back-bowery-public-art-as-protest-at-howl-happening-and-on-the-streets-on-and-off-the-bowery/
peace museums
Robert Blodgett’s journey is one of philosophy, art, and activism—three expressions of a single conviction: peace must be understood, defended, and made real in people's lives. As a painter and philosopher, he explores the deeper meanings of justice and human dignity, believing that true peace cannot exist without the complete eradication of poverty. Inspired by thinkers like Thomas Pogge, he sees poverty as a form of modern slavery—an injustice that must not just be alleviated but entirely dismantled. This belief is at the core of his advocacy, guiding his work toward a world where every individual can live with security, dignity, and opportunity.
As a co-founder of the Peace Museum Vienna and a Master’s student in Philosophy at the University of Vienna, Robert is committed to bridging the gap between theory and action. His work with the museum transforms peace from an abstract ideal into a concrete experience, making the stories of peace heroes accessible to all. He sees every visitor, every discussion, and every artistic expression as part of a larger movement—one that challenges indifference and calls for collective responsibility. Through his paintings, writings, and activism, he invites others to rethink their role in shaping a more just and peaceful world.