Robert J Billings started his art career at a very young age carving decoys with his father. His assemblages draw on his naturalist experience. Touching on topics of religion, politics, social welfare and the environment, he questions the value of commodities by mixing the traditional with the discarded.
His sculptures address the idea that society has become more toxic then ever, from over consumption, packaging and waste to an attitude of complacent. Billings expresses and manipulates these ideas transforming a range of medium from found/ready made objects to cast silver. Instead of adding to landfills, he morphs trash into controlled chaos representing many twisted views.
Conflict of Existence
Looking for Reasons for our madness
Instinctual behaviours
Kill or Be Killed
Fight for justice, freedom, respect
For Everyone, Everything
 Robert J Billings

2009
​"Shut Up and Keep Swimming" 
​JAIL Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

Robert J Billings contributed a sculpture of an enormous, apparently patriotic, robot warrior named Doughboy.
​In his imaginative, wickedly hilarious, laborintensive assemblage, Billings employs the literal and figurative raw materials of model plane assembly - his childhood past - to include his habit of ignoring directions.

2004
​"The Axis of Evil: The Secret History of Sin"
Columbia College Chicago Glass Curtain Gallery

"Robert J Billings, a Los Angeles-based political artist, is an eager participant in the show. Billings said he likes controversial art because it opens up a dialogue."

2001
​"Tower of Babble On"
​ Track 16 Gallery Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

"The title of Billing's installation was derived from the babbling of society always speaking of truth and justice, but void of action. Empty promises focused on me bases society where the needs of the few are dressed and the needs of the many are considered an unsolvable's social problem.
​The installation, Tower of Babble On, uses mixed media highlighting different views of reality. The models, pieces, boxes and photos depict both the significance and in the insignificance of the individual pieces as it compares to the whole. Models were selected based on graphics, society, science and obscurity – Tied together to represent the chaos of the world. The smallest being lost in the vastness of the universe."

2000
"The Buddha Show"
Oskar Friedl Gallery, Chicago, IL

"Humor is certainly not absent in this showing. At first sight, Smoking Buddha (Latex, lava rock, rubber tube) by Robert Billings puzzled me. A deflated latex Buddha, with clear hookah piece attached, rests on a lava rock. To its side, stands a beaker of small vials, with more scattered about.
​
Smoking Buddha? Indeed. A colloquial expression for a pot high is here fashioned into art object. The figure inflates... and deflates again. Like many blisses, this too shall pass...

1998
​"Family Healing Center Show"
Oskar Friedl Gallery, Chicago, IL

Trouble in Mind

"Where as a lot of art today seems merely confused, accomplished art at war with itself allows the viewer to feel doubt vividly, to see clearly while standing at the edge of chaos." Fred Camper, Chicago Reader

1987
"Absurd Art for Practical People"
Holmes Student Center Gallery,
​Dekalb, IL

Artist Robert J Billings makes a strong statement about war and religion in this exposition "Absurd Art for Practical People."
The three dimensional pieces are constructed from a variety of found objects which dramatically illustrate the artists sensitivity to contemporary issues.
The series of mixed media wall hangings representing and distorting the journey of Christ to his place of crucifixion crates the focal point of the exposition. These pieces, which depict christ bearing his cross contain background scenes of violence of modern warfare.
This parallel display uniquely compares the vivid horror of man's ongoing inhumanity to man.