Obituary for Robert J. Morrison's Life Celebrating
The Print Center lost one of its most dedicated supporters earlier this spring, when Robert J. "Bob" Morrison passed away on March 17, 2019.
Bob was a distinguished art collector, philanthropist and advertising professional. He was a highly dedicated and integral member of the Board of Governors of The Print Center, chairing our Nominating Committee and serving on our Executive and Benefit Committees. Bob was always the first to arrive to our meetings and made the time to get to know every staff member individually. We are grateful for his contributions and have the deepest respect for his achievements. He is sorely missed.
"Bob brought creativity and passion to everything he touched. His devotion to The Print Center was remarkable, and we were incredibly fortunate to have his leadership."
Elizabeth Spungen, Executive Director
A champion of printmaking and photography, The Print Center was a natural "home" for Bob. He visited during his first weeks in Philadelphia in the late 1970s, and the Joe Goode print he received for his membership contribution remained a treasured part of his collection. In 2014, Bob was the recipient of a Print Center Honors Award, and in 2015 he joined our Board of Governors.
We enjoyed his hospitality on many wonderful evenings amidst his wonderful collection - engaging visiting artists and curators in stimulating conversation was one of his favorite endeavors.
Bob, with Dinner Date Honoree Jesse Burke and his wife Kerry, 2016
Bob had a renowned collection of Pop Art, an interest which started in the 1970s when he worked in New York for the advertising agencies BBDO and McCann-Erickson. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein also worked in advertising at that time, and he was inspired to learn about their artwork. The recipient of mentorship from artists, curators and established collectors, he began acquiring posters and then prints, paintings and sculptural works. His collection later expanded to include an excellent selection of photographs and artist books. Morrison's collection of over 200 prints, photographs, paintings and sculptures, along with his large collection of signed artist books will be sold at Freeman's this fall, and on December 7, 2019, The Print Center's Annual Benefit will honor Bob and will have the theme of POP!
Fellow Board member Shelley Langdale, Curator & Head of Modern Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Art said: "Bob was an amazingly generous and warm person whose passion for art was deeply felt and infectious for anyone who spent time with him. His collection of contemporary prints and photographs was wide-ranging and his innate sense of curiosity often led him to acquire unusual works by well-known artists. His presence in the Philadelphia art community will be greatly missed."
Bob was the recipient of over 235 national and international creative awards, including the U.S. Commercial Film Festival/Gold Palm. He was the Founder of The Project Group, which focused on strategic and creative development for a variety of international pharmaceutical firms. Among his well-known accounts were Alpo, Meow Mix and Coca Cola, and he was responsible for many beloved jingles, including the "nobody bakes a cake as tasty as a Tastykake" tune.
Bob was dedicated to the transformative power of philanthropy and valued his role as a mentor. Together we presented numerous events encouraging young collectors, supporting established collectors in using their treasures for philanthropic purpose, and for investment professionals on how to work with tangible assets. Among his many accomplishments in that area is The Fine Art of Tangible Assets, a monograph developed with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and U.S. Trust.
The Print Center and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts invite
family and friends to an afternoon Celebrating Bob Morrison's life:
Sunday, June 30, 2019
2 - 4pm
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building
Rhoden Arts Center
The Robert J. Morrison Fund has been established at The Print Center in his honor, to continue his legacy of support for prints, artist books and mentoring collectors. Donations can be made online; mailed to The Print Center at 1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; or by phone at 215.735.6090 x1.
RSVP appreciated but not required: info@printcenter.org or 215.735.6090 x1.
All donations to The Print Center are 100% tax deductible. The Print Center is a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is registered as a charitable organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
Bob was a distinguished art collector, philanthropist and advertising professional. He was a highly dedicated and integral member of the Board of Governors of The Print Center, chairing our Nominating Committee and serving on our Executive and Benefit Committees. Bob was always the first to arrive to our meetings and made the time to get to know every staff member individually. We are grateful for his contributions and have the deepest respect for his achievements. He is sorely missed.
"Bob brought creativity and passion to everything he touched. His devotion to The Print Center was remarkable, and we were incredibly fortunate to have his leadership."
Elizabeth Spungen, Executive Director
A champion of printmaking and photography, The Print Center was a natural "home" for Bob. He visited during his first weeks in Philadelphia in the late 1970s, and the Joe Goode print he received for his membership contribution remained a treasured part of his collection. In 2014, Bob was the recipient of a Print Center Honors Award, and in 2015 he joined our Board of Governors.
We enjoyed his hospitality on many wonderful evenings amidst his wonderful collection - engaging visiting artists and curators in stimulating conversation was one of his favorite endeavors.
Bob, with Dinner Date Honoree Jesse Burke and his wife Kerry, 2016
Bob had a renowned collection of Pop Art, an interest which started in the 1970s when he worked in New York for the advertising agencies BBDO and McCann-Erickson. Artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein also worked in advertising at that time, and he was inspired to learn about their artwork. The recipient of mentorship from artists, curators and established collectors, he began acquiring posters and then prints, paintings and sculptural works. His collection later expanded to include an excellent selection of photographs and artist books. Morrison's collection of over 200 prints, photographs, paintings and sculptures, along with his large collection of signed artist books will be sold at Freeman's this fall, and on December 7, 2019, The Print Center's Annual Benefit will honor Bob and will have the theme of POP!
Fellow Board member Shelley Langdale, Curator & Head of Modern Prints & Drawings, National Gallery of Art said: "Bob was an amazingly generous and warm person whose passion for art was deeply felt and infectious for anyone who spent time with him. His collection of contemporary prints and photographs was wide-ranging and his innate sense of curiosity often led him to acquire unusual works by well-known artists. His presence in the Philadelphia art community will be greatly missed."
Bob was the recipient of over 235 national and international creative awards, including the U.S. Commercial Film Festival/Gold Palm. He was the Founder of The Project Group, which focused on strategic and creative development for a variety of international pharmaceutical firms. Among his well-known accounts were Alpo, Meow Mix and Coca Cola, and he was responsible for many beloved jingles, including the "nobody bakes a cake as tasty as a Tastykake" tune.
Bob was dedicated to the transformative power of philanthropy and valued his role as a mentor. Together we presented numerous events encouraging young collectors, supporting established collectors in using their treasures for philanthropic purpose, and for investment professionals on how to work with tangible assets. Among his many accomplishments in that area is The Fine Art of Tangible Assets, a monograph developed with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and U.S. Trust.
The Print Center and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts invite
family and friends to an afternoon Celebrating Bob Morrison's life:
Sunday, June 30, 2019
2 - 4pm
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
118-128 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19102
Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building
Rhoden Arts Center
The Robert J. Morrison Fund has been established at The Print Center in his honor, to continue his legacy of support for prints, artist books and mentoring collectors. Donations can be made online; mailed to The Print Center at 1614 Latimer Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; or by phone at 215.735.6090 x1.
RSVP appreciated but not required: info@printcenter.org or 215.735.6090 x1.
All donations to The Print Center are 100% tax deductible. The Print Center is a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and is registered as a charitable organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State's Bureau of Charitable Organizations.