2019 Marks 15 Years That I Have Been Creating The Slobots

Its been 15 years since Mike Slobot made his first Slobot Robot Painting and Sculpture

It’s hard to believe, but 2019 marks 15 years since the first Slobot. I just did an interview with Astrum People and it got me thinking about how (and why!) I got started making these robot paintings and sculptures that I call “The Slobots”.

As the story goes, all the way back in 2004, I had my oil paints out and had been staring at a canvas looking for inspiration. At this time, I had been creating more abstract works, and my wife saw my inspiration dilemma. She said, “Paint me a robot.” I did, and that was that. The first Slobot was created in that instant. It is a 24″ x 36″ Oil painting on an upcycled canvas called “The Slobot and the Moon”

Mike Slobot “The Slobot and the Moon”, Oil on Canvas 2004

A robot sculpture soon followed made of found objects that included an oatmeal container and some paper mache. The Slobots have come a long way from those early days. Some have traveled the world to places like NYC, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Istanbul. They have been collected around the world as well. Lately, some of them have been hanging around an airport in Greensboro, NC.

Below is a grouping of various Slobots from over the years…

All that said, I keep going with them. Each time I think I have finally made the last Slobot, I get more ideas – and the ideas sometimes come in like a flood! The Sculptures sometimes take a long time to fully realize, so lately I have been exploring the world of prints more fully. Click here to see (and buy!) some of my new work.