Robert James Quackenbush Jr.

Artist Robert J. Quackenbush, Jr. passed away in the Beacon Hill home he loved on December 11, 2023. He made Kansas City his home in 2005, moving here from New York City. He is survived by his wife Merry of Kansas City, MO, his brother Thomas Quackenbush and wife Patricia of New York, NY, his sister Susan Quackenbush of Aiken, SC and his two greyhounds Allie and Milly.

He was uncommon, so his obituary will be, too. He was the third generation in his family to work for IBM, but during his years in the corporate world, art was always Robert’s passion. Wherever he lived he found the best place to go to art school, starting at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art. Whenever he had a place to use as a studio, he painted. When he didn’t have a space, he painted in his head.

In 1996 he became a full-time artist, and his work included painting, sculpting and printmaking. His creations demonstrated the power of the horizon line, the beauty of architectural dimensions, the surprise of a textured surface, the intriguing angles of geometry or the human form, as well as the irresistible attraction of a found object.

He began teaching painting classes in 2006 and enjoyed working with artists at all levels. In 2017 he opened his beautiful new studio in Beacon Hill. And in that remarkable space he created community and offered generous mentorship and unflagging support for the artists who visited. He has two legacies: his own work and the work of the artists he taught.

In fitting recognition of Robert’s career, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, MO is featuring his Unearthed Fragments series. About 30 of his paintings and works on paper will be on exhibit until January 7, 2024.

A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at StudioQ, located at 2442 W. Paseo Blvd, Kansas City, MO, on Saturday, January 20, 2024, from 2:00 – 4:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art or KC REGAP (Kansas City Retired Greyhounds as Pets).