Post-Mortem Portraits

Post-Mortem Portraits explores life, death, and memory through the lens of memento mori. In this ongoing series, Robert creates intimate portraits by curating objects from a deceased person’s estate and assembling them into a single image that reflects their essence. These carefully composed works aim to capture the spirit of the individual through the belongings they left behind, offering a deeply personal narrative of a life once lived.

Unlike traditional portraiture, which focuses on the living, Post-Mortem Portraits invites viewers to consider how we remember and celebrate those who have passed. The curated objects serve as enduring connections, preserving memory in a form that is both visual and emotional.

“For me, this work raises important questions about how we remember and honor the dead, and how we preserve their memory for future generations,” Robert explains. “It challenges us to consider the ways in which we remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones, and the importance of cherishing their legacies.”

As an artist with a strong interest in cultural anthropology, Robert is drawn to the ways different societies preserve stories and commemorate the departed. Post-Mortem Portraits serves as both a meditation on life’s impermanence and a meaningful celebration of the objects—and lives—that remain with us in memory.