Born in Moscow (USSR) on March 31, 1941, Robert Shlimak spent most of his early years in Baku, Azerbaijan, where he lived until 1989.
A highly accomplished artist, poet, and graphic designer, Robert built a distinguished reputation in the Soviet Union, actively participating in numerous prestigious art exhibitions both domestically and internationally. His journey as an artist took him across Europe—spending time in Austria and Italy (1989–1990)—where he exhibited his works in France and Italy. In July 1990, he and his family relocated to Australia.
Settling in Melbourne, Robert established himself as a freelance fine artist, illustrator, graphic designer, and art teacher. He took part in numerous group exhibitions across Bayside, Camberwell, Caulfield, Armadale, Chelsea, and Knox while also showcasing his work in solo exhibitions at renowned venues such as MRC and Linden Galleries (St Kilda), Brummel’s Gallery (now Da Noi restaurant, South Yarra), and Melba Hall (University of Melbourne). Over three decades in Australia, he created more than 500 paintings and graphic works, illustrated eight books, and designed over 60 logos and posters for Melbourne-based businesses.
Robert was an active member of Multicultural Arts Victoria, a committee member of the BEZALEL Fellowship of Arts (Victoria), and served as the president of the artistic club-café MUSE for nearly 17 years.
Beyond visual arts, Robert was a gifted poet, excelling in lyrical, epic, and satirical poetry. In 1997, he published an illustrated anthology of epigrams and caricatures, offering a sharp and humorous commentary on Melbourne’s artistic scene. His literary accomplishments included winning the Russian Literary Competition (2002) for the Russian-speaking community of Australia. Throughout his life, he wrote hundreds of lyrical poems, over 600 epigrams and dedications, nearly 50 longer-form poems, and 18 poetic plays—many of which were performed at MUSE, the artistic club he co-founded with his wife, Greta.
In 2002, Robert was commissioned to design and paint a large mural for the Migrant Resource Centre in East Bentleigh. Completed within three months, the piece explores themes of migration and the pursuit of happiness and has remained on display at the centre since its unveiling.
His contributions to the arts and multicultural dialogue were widely recognized. He received the Victoria Award of Excellence in Multicultural Affairs and was honored for his artistic achievements in the documentary project Making Multicultural Australia. His works have earned numerous awards and commendations at various Melbourne art exhibitions.
In March 2019, a retrospective exhibition at Da Noi restaurant in South Yarra featured 50 of Robert’s works spanning 25 years, celebrating his artistic legacy.
Today, Robert’s works can be found in private collections across Australia, USA, Israel, Italy, and Russia. A selection of his remaining pieces is available for viewing upon request.
Robert has passed away on 24 November 2020 and was buried at the Jewish Memorial No.4 – Rose Garden, Springvale Botanical Cemetery, in Melbourne, Australia.
Robert's online gallery can be viewed at http://robertshlimak.com.au