Robert Vail

Robert Vail (born 1948) is an American photographer whose work bridges the precision of engineering with the lyricism of fine art. He received his first camera at age eight, sparking a lifelong passion for capturing the world around him. After earning a degree in electrical engineering, he spent several years at IBM before shifting to commercial photography, specializing in fashion and architectural imagery.

For the past decade, Vail has studied under a master painter, immersing himself in the techniques of the Old Masters to understand how line, color, and form combine to achieve aesthetic perfection. Each night, he wanders urban streets in search of the extraordinary within the mundane—shadows pooling in alleys, neon reflections on rain‑slicked pavement, the ephemeral geometry of scaffolding and signage.

In the studio, Vail transforms these photographs into digital “paintings,” layering and manipulating each image to reveal a quiet beauty reflective of his subconscious and inner life. His finished works hover between photographic realism and painterly abstraction, inviting viewers to see familiar cityscapes through the eyes of a dreamer.