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Button by Button: Creativity and Craft with Robert Fuerer

Reflections on the June 24 Artist Talk at BDAC

Written by Isabelle Churchill


Artist Robert Fuerer’s June 24 Art Talk offered a rare window into the creative process behind his intricate button portraits currently on view at BDAC. “Women of Art: Button by Button” pays homage to iconic women in art history through a painstakingly detailed medium—thousands of antique buttons, arranged and layered to resemble classical paintings.


During the talk, Fuerer guided attendees through the conceptual and technical journey of the exhibition. He began by reflecting on the nature of inspiration, sharing how this unique technique emerged unexpectedly and evolved into a full-bodied artistic practice. What began as an experimental use of materials quickly became a lifelong pursuit of honoring art history through assemblage.

A key moment in Fuerer’s artistic development came from a chance encounter with American painter Chuck Close, known for his monumental portraits built from pixel-like blocks of color. Fuerer credits this interaction as a creative catalyst. Much like Close’s signature blend of realism and abstraction—where up close, viewers see individual shapes and patterns, but from afar the image becomes a cohesive whole—Fuerer’s portraits rely on accumulation. Thousands of buttons function like brushstrokes, with texture and color working in tandem to form depth and dimension.



This technique shares visual roots with pointillism, where small dots of pure color are applied in patterns to form an image. Fuerer’s use of buttons expands on this approach, transforming a tactile, everyday object into an expressive tool of portraiture. Each button contributes to a greater narrative—one that speaks not just of artistic technique, but of memory, collection, and time.

Fuerer also spoke about his extensive button collection—some passed down through generations, others sourced from antique shops, estate sales, and fellow collectors. Each piece carries its own story, making every portrait not only a visual interpretation of a famous painting but also a tapestry of memory and human touch.



As he walked the audience through his process, Fuerer described how he meticulously selects and places each button, paying close attention to color, texture, and light. This delicate and deliberate work results in layered compositions that read as both familiar and entirely new.

One of the most resonant moments came when Fuerer shared his dream of one day exhibiting “Women of Art” alongside the original works that inspired them. He also offered a glimpse into what’s next: a companion series titled “Men of Art,” which will use the same button technique to celebrate iconic male figures in art history.


The event was more than a talk—it was a testament to how creative practices emerge from curiosity, memory, and an openness to reimagining the familiar. As Fuerer reminded us, creativity often begins with asking “what if”—and then having the patience, passion, and vision to follow where that question leads.

 
 
 

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