PRESS RELEASE: AUGUST 18, 2026

FloArts debuts new gallery with paintings from late professor Gene Roberds

Following a yearlong renovation, the Florida School of the Arts reopens its doors just in time to kick off the new season with Wilderness: Landscape Paintings of the Late FloArts Professor Gene Roberds. The exhibit opens with a reception on Thursday, September 3 at 5:00 p.m. and is part of the “50 Years of FloArts” celebration. The event is free and open to the public.

Roberds was one of the founding fine arts instructors at FloArts, teaching for 19 years before retiring in 1997. In 1955, he began exhibiting his work throughout the United States, including collections in Barnett Banks throughout Florida; Prudential Life in Chicago; First Union Banks in Orlando; the City of Orlando; Fifth District Court of Appeals in Daytona Beach; Adams Mark Hotel in Jacksonville; the George Percy Collection in Gainesville; and many others.

FloArts gallery director (and former student) Sarah Alexander Bjorn remembers Roberds as an influential instructor and a masterful artist. “He left a profound body of work after his passing that must be seen to be appreciated. His pieces deserve a bit of a retrospective - his work has not been shown as a whole in many years,” Bjorn said. “I am excited to install this show and look forward to viewing the paintings in one place - our brand new gallery.”

Bjorn said Roberds remained close to the region after his retirement, painting familiar areas along the river, including Murphy's Creek, Dunn's Creek, and Silver River. “His paintings are masterful representations of color, light, and what I think of as color space (color indicating atmospheric changes of space either coming closer to, or farther away from the viewer),” Bjorn said. “I hope the community will enjoy these paintings of familiar areas through Gene's point of view. In my opinion, they are stunning!”

Roberds’ artist statement:
My paintings begin as a series of small watercolors executed on location. Since I usually work in a boat, I am able to reach remote wilderness areas away from civilization and bothersome onlookers. I feel strongly about the documentary aspect of painting these areas, for they may not exist much longer. My larger works, both oil and acrylic, are fabricated from many of the small watercolors, plus some photographs and drawings. They are a bit impressionistic, a little expressionistic, but are mostly composites of abstract brush stroke patterning, calligraphy, and color.

It is an ordered arrangement of abstract parts that result in a composition that is conceived abstractly, and should, I believe, be perceived in that realm. Subject matter is only an excuse or reason to begin a painting. The result is a painting that satisfies my involvement in the abstract structure of composition but reads representationally as well.

Roberds is listed in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in Kentucky, Who's Who in American Education, Two Thousand Men of Achievement, and Encyclopedia Internazionale Degli Artisti. He is also a member of The Florida Artists Group (FLAG), which is made up of artists whose work has attained national or state-wide recognition.

Roberds’ works will remain on display through October 27. FloArts gallery hours are 9:00 – 5:00 Monday – Friday.

For nearly 50 years, Florida School of the Arts has transformed lives through creativity, discipline and mentorship that extends far beyond the stage. FloArts is located on the St. Johns River State College Palatka Campus and serves the entire state of Florida. FloArts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards associate degrees in acting, dance performance, musical theater, stage management, theater technology, graphic design/new media and studio art. For more information, call (386) 312-4300 or visit FloArts.

Wilderness: Landscape Paintings of the Late FloArts Professor Gene Roberds