![Photograph of a dark, stylized sculpture of a curled fetus holding an iridescent sheet.](/sites/default/files/posts/2026/08/robert-shaw-grandmother.jpg "Robert Shaw "Grandmother"")
Robert (Bob) Shaw served more than a decade as the Alaska State archaeologist, responsible for cultural resource preservation across four time zones and the geographic span of 20 Alaska native languages. Having joined the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, he left at the rank of captain in 1971 to forge a career in arctic anthropology, proving his bold claim "there's always room at the top." He also served in many other professional leadership roles, including as chief of history and archaeology in the Alaska State Division of Parks, president of the Alaska Anthropological Association, chair of the Alaska Governor's Historic Sites Advisory Committee, and as the Alaska State Historic Preservation officer. He was active as a scholar throughout his career, publishing scientific papers and receiving research grants from the National Science Foundation. Following his public service, he ran an archaeological consulting practice for clients including the Alaska Railroad and multiple Alaska native corporations.
A prolific artist and craftsman across a wide range of media and techniques. These include silversmithing, carving in stone and wood, blacksmithing, knife making, and replicating ancient art forms and technologies. He has taught traditional art forms to Alaska native youth at summer heritage camps and working with local Tlingit artists to create interactive displays for the Wrangell Petroglyph Historical Park. He routinely taught workshops and private students and previously held academic appointments in art at the University of Alaska and University of Washington.
Bob earned Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in anthropology/archaeology from Washington State University in 1983 and 1975 respectively, a B.S. in industrial education and earth sciences from East Texas State University in 1966, and a professional certificate in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma in 1967.
Bob Shaw 2015
The senior fellow in the 2015-16 Exnihilo Residency program, Dr. Robert Dane Shaw has a bio the spans several decades, educational institutions, affiliation, international commissions and a diversity of techniques and styles that will take your breath away. Download Bob's VITA to learn about his extensive experience.
My artwork draws heavily on the past in referencing motifs of other cultures and times, building upon my professional career in archaeology. Cross cultural referencing and appropriation is a well worn path among artists, otherwise “art history” would not hold an appropriately ubiquitous place in every art school curriculum. I deal mostly with prehistory, only occasionally reaching into the ethnographic period for inspiration. In looking at my body of art work, critically astute viewers will find a visually subtle second level of cross-cultural borrowing underlying the readily apparent forms and motifs. That second level originates in purposeful digression from the chronological, sequential development of materials and technology. I often make tools required to produce my objects. Using tool forms from the past brings a differing ethic and aesthetic. Occasionally the tools and their embellishment simply become the product. They are good and sufficient unto themselves.
What artists make is coevolved with the availability of tools and materials. What is available at a particular place or during a particular time is limiting - and so it is today. Artistic innovation is often an offshoot of newly available tools, technology and materials developed in industrial contexts – and some would say a divergence from practical functionality. That is why my tools sometimes get decorated beyond functional needs, a characteristic of tools often, but not invariably, found throughout human history.
Resident Updates
Sad news
Dr. Robert Dane Shaw, 74, died on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, following a brief illness. He brought so much joy, knowledge and creativity to the SilverWorks community. He will be missed.
