Robert Willms

Robert Willms
Robert Willms installing Trojan Taurus (2006-2013), rusting steel, at the Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden
Born	Robert Byron Willms 1969 Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Education	University of Alberta, Edmonton, North American Baptist College, Edmonton, Kamloops Senior Secondary School, Kamloops
Known for	Sculpture, drawing
Movement	Constructed steel sculpture, abstract art, modernism
Patron(s)	Robert T. Webb Sculpture Garden

Robert Byron Willms (born 1969) is a Canadian sculptor and teacher, best known for creating assembled, abstract steel sculptures.

Willms was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia in 1969. He has moved houses countless times throughout his life, living in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Grande Prairie, and Kamloops, which he considers his hometown. Since 1994 he has lived in Edmonton, Alberta. Robert's father, John Willms, while working as a welder, encouraged his son to consider the ironworking trade, but Robert initially disliked the idea of such work. At eighteen years old, Willms was injured in a motorcycle accident, resulting in a below-knee amputation of one leg. Ever adaptable, Willms defied this disability as an avid snowboarder and cyclist.

Willms' interest in making art began with pencil drawings, copying pictures of famous paintings out of art books, and lead to his earning Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees. This formal education ironically left Willms feeling "disillusioned with the arts completely". Willms married, and had two children. A visit to the steel sculpture studio of Peter Hide reignited Willms' interest in art. Hide took Willms on, initially as an exhibition preparation volunteer, then as a studio assistant, and eventually as a Master of Fine Arts student at the University of Alberta. During his time at the school, Willms co-founded the Society of Student Artists (SoSA), now known as the University of Alberta Visual Arts Student Association (VASA). After leaving university, Willms joined the North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop (NESW). Willms is a member of the Edmonton Contemporary Artists' Society (ECAS).