This clip from his first choreographed performance, “Pelican” (1963), for me defines Robert Rauschenberg’s artistic legacy. It is open-minded, innovative, collaborative, experimental, and risk taking.  It is simple in its materials; it is beautiful in its end result.  This is only one aspect of Rauschenberg’s artistic career, but it sums up so many elements of his protean life..

Interview with the artist

Robert Rauschenberg was born Milton Rauschenberg on October 22, 1925, in Port Arthur, Texas. He began to study pharmacology at the University of Texas at Austin before being drafted into the United States navy, where he served as a neuropsychiatric technician in the navy hospital corps in San Diego…

Works in the Tate collection

Works in the MOMA collection

11 Works online