Robert Hightower says he used to keep a lot of his thoughts and feelings bottled up, sometimes so deep that even he couldn’t access them. But after entering therapy and discovering his artistic practice during the pandemic, his creative ingenuity feels nearly endless. Through working in both black and white and color, Hightower reflects the duality of his life with bipolar II disorder.
“My black and white figurative works come from the depths of my depressive states, where everything feels heavy and stripped bare. In contrast, my pieces with color embody the energy and creativity of hypomania, where emotions expand and figures distort, flowing with movement that can feel both chaotic and exhilarating,” he told 48hills.
Moving between these two styles mirrors how he navigates his inner world. Together they tell a deeply personal story of his journey that expresses the complex resilience it takes to embrace all facets of himself.
And now that he’s discovered the path to clarity, Hightower says wants to give back.
“I hope that when people see my work they are given a moment of reflection, a chance to find a safe space within themselves to not only reflect on who they are but also on what it means ‘to be’ or ‘to exist.’ I believe that when we move through life with purpose, whether big or small, we create our own opportunities, rather than waiting for things to happen,” Hightower said.
He grew up in Chicago and attended the Chicago Military Academy in Bronzeville. At that time in his life, art wasn’t even on his radar. After graduating, he pursued “the Hollywood Dream” and moved to Los Angeles, where he attended Santa Monica College.
“L.A. felt like a movie, full of wild experiences and opportunities I could never have imagined growing up in Chicago. I found myself in circles that seemed larger than life, but eventually, I realized I was chasing something that wasn’t sustainable. I no longer recognized who I had become and felt lost in a cycle that wasn’t going anywhere,” Hightower said.
That’s when he decided to make a drastic change, and moved to the Bay Area with the intention of shifting into the tech industry. Hightower says that he had to adjust to a much slower pace, which at first seemed unexciting, but ended up being exactly what he needed, a necessary reset.
Help us save local journalism!
Every tax-deductible donation helps us grow to cover the issues that mean the most to our community. Become a 48 Hills Hero and support the only daily progressive news source in the Bay Area.
“Sometimes what we need most is the opposite of what we think we want,” he said.
Hightower currently lives in the Marina Bay neighborhood of Richmond, which he describes as an industrial area with its own charm. He adds that living in proximity to the Richmond ferry terminal makes commuting to San Francisco feel “like a little luxury” and being just minutes away from Point Richmond is a culinary plus for his family. As a relative newcomer to the Bay Area art community, Hightower initially worried about finding his place.
“Like many, I started by emulating the greats, feeling a bit voiceless at first. But through impatience and a lot of experimentation, I began to discover who I truly wanted to be as an artist. There is always room to carve out your own lane, it just takes persistence, determination, and a healthy dose of stubbornness,” he said.
What he loves most about this community is how it constantly challenges him to push the boundaries of what he creates. Being invited to the de Young Open 2023 allowed him an opportunity to experience work from a wide range of other artists. He says it was not only a great privilege, but that it unlocked something inside of him.
“It gave me unlimited inspiration and showed me that there are no limits to the art that can be made, as long as it comes from a place of truth and authenticity,” Hightower said.
He has three primary descriptors for his work: raw, intentional, and unapologetic. His work is intentionally rough, imperfect, and free. He finds joy in creating pieces that are stripped down to their essence, allowing for interpretation of what they are rather than what they are not.
“I believe this makes my art more relatable, giving everyone space to connect to it in their own way,” Hightower said.
“The mistakes are where the magic happens and I don’t want to stifle that. Often, the parts I’m most uncomfortable with turn out to be the most powerful elements of the piece,” he said.
His work’s unapologetic aspect is key to the themes he chooses to explore: mental health, childhood trauma, and stigma. All are subjects he was discouraged from discussing openly within his Black community.
“For years, I hid my stress behind fake smiles and a busy schedule. Art became a safe space to confront my emotions when words were not enough. After over 130 consecutive weeks of therapy, I’ve found not only my voice but also the confidence to tackle difficult topics through my art, bringing light to issues that are too often silenced,” Hightower said.
Regarding outward influences, Hightower discovered Kandinsky while visiting the Guggenheim in New York in 2021 and the experience left an indelible mark. He also cites pioneering Bay Area-based artist and musician Mike Henderson as a powerful influence on his ability to create emotionally jarring work that can stir both anger and deep emotion. During a weekend in Sacramento, Hightower saw one of Henderson’s pieces and described the moment as so intense that he felt compelled to find him.
“I discovered he was going to be at an art event in San Francisco and I made sure to be there. Not only did I get to see him perform blues, but I also had the chance to hear him talk about his work and inspirations. That experience gave me a deeper understanding of the power behind his work,” Hightower said.
After the event, he had a conversation with Henderson and left with his book, an autograph, his contact information, and a renewed sense of purpose in his own direction. Henderson’s book has since become a source of inspiration whenever Hightower needs guidance in the studio.
His preferred medium is oil on canvas, using black as the foundation of his work while allowing the white of the gessoed canvas to serve as its own color. He says that black isn’t just a color to him, but a proviso that represents his ability to work past limitations to uncover something robust.
In his work titled Session 56, Hightower uses black to form the emotional core of the figure, while red accents bring an intensity that speaks to pain and resilience. The black and red interplay is a visual representation of vulnerability and strength. Session 3‘s monochromatic motif captures a moment of reflection, while its absence of color allows unrefined emotion to surface.
Hightower makes his way downstairs to his home studio after the rest of his family is sound asleep, a time of day during which he can shed his roles as father and husband to fully embrace what he calls “the creative chaos.” His process doesn’t start with sketching or researching images, but begins through writing. He calls himself a visual thinker, using words to access the images in his mind, a technique born from a suggestion from his therapist, who encouraged Hightower to write letters to himself to get a deeper interior view.
“Suddenly, I could visualize what I was writing so clearly. I used to think of it as a superpower, which made sense since I’ve always been a lucid dreamer. That was my escape as a child, and something I’ve learned to control with age. As I write, I collect inspiration from the words I’ve put down, which helps me process the story I want to tell through my art,” Hightower said.
The condition of limited materials filters through his methods in more ways than one. After moving his family into a new home, he thought having a much bigger space would elevate his work. He filled it with supplies he didn’t know what to do with, quickly discovering that more stuff came with more expectations, and was not necessarily more fulfilling.
“Eventually, I retreated to a smaller corner of the downstairs studio, a space much like the one I had in our first rental home. That, combined with the reality of budgeting for my children’s education and our cost of living, meant my once-overflowing art studio had to be reduced to the bare essentials. And whether I’m rushing to bed at 3am to catch two hours of sleep or scraping the last bit of paint from the tube, I’ve learned that, for me, less is more,” Hightower said.
Hightower admits that at the beginning, he wasn’t approaching his work with any level of seriousness. His art felt “gimmicky,” the result of emulating styles of artists he looked up to. But then something shifted. Hightower began breaking rules and doing things his own way. The more he painted, the more clearly his own voice emerged, and he learned to conjure honesty instead of perfection.
“Around the third month of therapy, I made the decision to be fully transparent and that decision relieved a pressure that had been weighing me down for years. I began to use my therapy sessions as source material for my work, turning my personal experiences into visuals. My goal was to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health and be a catalyst for change. To create a space where vulnerability was not only accepted but encouraged,” Hightower said.
Hightower says the murders of George Floyd and Tyre Nichols had a profound impact on him as a Black man and as an artist.
“These tragedies reinforced my motivation to continue my personal journey toward authenticity, while also cementing my sense of purpose in advocating for mental health. The state of the world, particularly for marginalized communities, has made me realize that my art needs to be unfiltered and sometimes uncomfortable in its messaging. There’s a lot of darkness, and too many people are without the resources to care for themselves, leading them down paths with no way back,” he said.
He says he wants his art to be a call to action, a lifeline for those in need of hope and healing.
“When I was at my lowest, having someone listen meant more to me than someone trying to motivate me by pointing out my flaws. I aim to create a safe space where people feel seen and heard, a space for real conversations. In embracing vulnerability and sharing my own struggles through my work, I hope to earn trust and show others that it’s okay to be open about their pain. I believe that’s the only way we can begin to heal, not just individually but as a community,” he said.
He emphasizes that the phrase “I need help” is not a sign of weakness, but rather a powerful declaration of growth, self-awareness, and accountability, especially in a world that often glorifies independence and self-sufficiency. Hightower believes true strength lies in recognizing when we need support.
“It takes courage to admit that we don’t have all the answers, and even more courage to ask for guidance. Asking for help is the first step toward healing and evolving into the person we’re meant to be. It shows that we are not just surviving but actively working to become better versions of ourselves,” he said.
His recent exhibitions have included the 2024 group show Eye in I at Sausalito Center for the Arts and he is currently working on a solo exhibition, Peace x Piece, which he hopes to mount in the spring.
“Through the collection for this show, I examine and dispel the stigma surrounding Black men seeking therapy for mental health and wellness. The artwork captures their internal and external battles as they present their true selves to the world,” he said.
Hightower will have a solo exhibition this summer at the Frida Kahlo House in Venice Beach. In connection with his prestigious Bader and Simon Empowerment Grant, Hightower will have another, weeklong, solo exhibition celebrating resilience, empowerment, and artistic expression at the newly constructed Bader and Simon Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio this winter.
When he’s not working on his art, Hightower’s other outlet is playing golf. He says it keeps him calm, forces him to breathe, and makes him focus on the single shot in front of him. On weekends, he loves going to Equator Coffee in Mill Valley.
“The fresh air, the trees on the hillsides, and the vibrant mix of cyclists, families, and baristas all in their element puts me at ease” he said.
Hightower made sure to express his deepest gratitude to his wife, whose patience, love, and unwavering support have been the foundation that’s allowed him to embark on this journey.
“Behind the scenes, she keeps our family grounded and whole, offering me a beacon of hope and the motivation to keep pushing forward. She’s always there when I need her most, and for that, I am endlessly thankful,” he said.
Stark and bold works that speak to his own mental health process make Robert Hightower a beacon of hope for others. He’s a listener and a guide, an encouraging voice and a hand that can be held in his public’s darkest moments.
“As someone who has made countless mistakes, I can say that we all have a comeback story within us. But to realize it, we must be willing to sacrifice and be honest with ourselves about who we truly want to become,” Hightower said. “My work is a reflection of that journey, of vulnerability, self-discovery, and the hope that comes with facing our truths.”
For more information, visit his website iamrobart.com. He is also on Instagram and Etsy.
