The Planet Welcomed Me: A Commemoration of Robert Derbouka’s Art

MAR 21 >> JUN 8, 2025

Thunder Bay Art Gallery is delighted to present The Planet Welcomed Me: A Commemoration of Robert Derbouka’s Art (1947 – 2024). In the foyer, a selection of paintings and sculptures, including some of his final pieces, celebrate the life and work of local artist Robert, or “Bob,” Derbouka. A self-taught artist, Derbouka’s work can be described as folk art or salvage art, though his paintings of string, large sculptures of carved wood and welded metal, and outdoor installations of vines and rocks defy categorization. In his obituary, he wrote, “The planet welcomed me with many voices and languages, its elements caressed and nurtured me. As a child, my mother would sometimes sit me in the corner of a wild strawberry patch while she picked. One year, she jarred 32 pints.” His works express joy and ambition for a life off the beaten path. He was an artist who was moved to celebrate and critique the human condition.

A welding foreman for Bombardier for three decades, Robert and his wife, Donna Phoenix, built a life on the edge of town, filled with art and ideas, including an earth-sheltered house in Neebing, Ontario. In 2008-2009, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery presented Derbouka’s first solo exhibition, EX-Centrix, a milestone for the artist. The gallery wishes to express gratitude to Donna Pheonix for working with us to present this commemorative exhibition.