Robert Griffing

Robert Griffing

Narrative Art


Graceful birchbark canoes gliding silently across a mirror-like wilderness lake—Woodland Indian warriors moving warily beneath the heavy canopy of a virgin forest—tender family moments that are universal to all races and cultures—colorful and dramatic moments in the never ending struggle between man and nature—all of these scenes and more are captured with both artistic beauty and incredible historical accuracy in the original paintings and limited edition art prints of Robert Griffing.


Robert Griffing studied illustration and design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and went on to enjoy a 30-year career in advertising. His lifelong interest of Native American and Colonial history was the result of growing up in Western Pennsylvania, where many historic eighteenth-century events took place.

Today Griffing paints the Native Americans of the Great Lakes and Eastern Woodlands. His work has been included in educational packages, television historical documentaries, the covers of national magazines, and the Native American museums and cultural centers, including the 2007 exhibition Emissaries of Peace: The 1762 Cherokee & British Delegations at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

At the 2013 Quest for the West Art show and Sale at the Eiteljorg Museum of the American Indians and Western Art, he received the Patrons Choice Award and the Henry Farny Award for best painting titled Family. At the 2009 Quest for the West, Griffing received the Artist of Distinction Award, which entitled him to a large exhibition of his work at the Eiteljorg Museum in 2010. In 2008, he received the Autry’s masters of the American West Purchase Award for his painting Council at Slippery Rock Creek. Later that year at Quest for the West, he received the Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award for his painting, Secrets of the Dark Forest. His research and historical accuracy earned him two awards: the Forbes medal for his contribution to Pennsylvania history in the Arthur Saint Clair historic preservation award.

Griffing exhibits at all Settlers West Shows, the Eiteljorg Quest for the West Show and Sale, and History Meets the Arts in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Griffing’s books and canvas prints are published through Paramount Press Inc. Robert Griffing is represented by Settlers of the West Galleries in Tucson, Arizona, Lord Nelson’s Gallery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and most recently here at New Towne Gallery.