Robert Shlimak was born in Moscow (U.S.S.R.) and lived in Baku (Azerbaijan) until 1989.

He has qualifications in Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Poetry Writing. He acquired a reputation as a professional artist participating in many popular art exhibitions in the former Soviet Union and overseas. Robert then spent some time living in Austria and Italy ( 1989-1990) and exhibited his work in France and Italy. In the late 1990 he immigrated to Australia with his family.

Living in Melbourne, Robert has been working as a freelance art teacher, fine artist, illustrator and graphic designer. He has been participating in many group exhibitions and art shows (Bayside, Camberwell, Caulfield, Armadale, Chelsea, Knox) and also had solo exhibitions at the MRC and Linden galleries (St.Kilda), Brummel’s gallery (now Da Noi restaurant in South Yarra) and Melba Hall (University of Melbourne). During the last 25 years he has created about 400 paintings & graphical works. He has illustrated 8 books and has designed more than 60 logos and posters for Melbourne businesses.

Robert is a member of Multicultural Arts of Victoria, the Committee member of BEZALEL Fellowship of Arts, Victoria and was the president of artistic club-cafe MUSE for almost 10 years.

Robert is also an experienced poet and enjoys working in different genres such as lyric, philosophical and humorous. In 1994 he published an illustrated anthology of his epigrams and caricatures depicting Melbournian artistic life. Robert is a winner of the Russian Literary Competition (2002) for the Russian-speaking community of Australia. He is the author of 100’s of lyrical poems, more than 500 epigrams and dedications, 18 poetic plays produced by the members of club MUSE which has been established by Robert & his wife Greta.

In 2002 Robert was commissioned to design and paint a wall mural for the Migrant Resource Centre in East Bentliegh. The mural with the theme of the search for happiness in the migration context has been completed within 3 months period and has been hanging at the centre since its creation.

Robert has been successfully nominated for Victoria’s Award of Excellence in Multicultural Affairs and also awarded for his achievements in Arts and contribution to the Documentary CD called ‘Making Multicultural Australia’ in 1995.

His works have won numerous awards and also commended at the various Art Exhibitions in Melbourne.

Many of his works are in private collections in Australia, USA, Israel, Italy, Russia. Some of his works can be viewed at his studio in East Bentleigh on request.