Robert C. Moore was born in Philadelphia in 1921 and remained a lifelong resident of the area. He was also a lifelong artist, apprenticing during his younger years with the notable painter Samuel J. Brown. After World War II, Robert attended the Philadelphia College of Art (currently the University of the Arts) under the GI Bill and later received an MFA from Temple University. He pursued many years of postgraduate studies through various grants and fellowships, including the John Hay Fellowship at the University of Chicago and programs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

 

Although Robert’s artistic career led him to exhibit throughout the United States, his work in education was based in the Wilmington, Delaware area, where he held teaching and administrative positions. His retirement in 1986 enlivened new opportunities for him. He spent several years as a graphic artist until turning his attention to creating art that explored themes of cultural and historical significance in recognition of the African Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas in Philadelphia, his spiritual home. He designed a stained glass window honoring church founder Absalom Jones and installed a series of six murals in the St. Thomas Great Hall depicting the church’s  heritage.

 

During the period before his death in December of 2006, Robert compiled a book chronicling the creation of the Heritage Murals. The completed edition will be published later this year.