Robert Clifford Rishell was instrumental in founding the Oakland Museum, and remained active in its support the rest of his life.

He was son of an Oakland Mayor, Clifford E. Rishell (Mayor 1949-1961). He was a graduate of the California College of Arts and Crafts, and later a member of the Society of Western Artists.

Robert Rishell studied under Xavier Martinez. He was influenced to paint California's deserts by friend and artist Jimmy Swinnerton and became a friend of another desert painter, John W. Hilton.

Portrait of Cowboy Star, Gene Autry by Robert Rishell
now on display at the Hall of Great Western Performers,
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Robert's notoriety as an artist brought him an invitation to become a member of the Bohemian Club. His daughter recalls that Bob really enjoyed the Bohemian camp outs, especially enjoying his tent mates, ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and novelist Herman Wouk. He did a portrait of Edgar Bergen and his young daughter Candice.

In 1974, Robert was commissioned to paint the official gubernatorial portrait of Ronald Reagan. This portrait is now on display in the California State Capitol Museum. Rishell's paintings show a stark contrast of light and shadow, and are quite distinctive. His works were included in the collections of Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater.

The Royalty of California Desert Painters (Robert Rishell is in the second row right

This photo was taken in 1968 at the dedication for a memorial for Ed Ainsworth, a veteran newspaper man and author, a passionate desert advocate and a dear friend of desert artists. Back Row ... Marco Gomez, Bill Bender, Bob Wagoner, Ernie Morris, Grant Speed, Don Perceval, Burt Procter, Ace Powell, Joe Beeler. Second Row... Kirk Martin, John Hampton, Fred Harmon, Gordon Snidow, Nick Firfires, Robert Rishell, Bob Lee. Front Row ... John W. Hilton, Olaf Wieghorst, Bill Hampton, Jimmy Swinnerton, Katherine Ainsworth, and William Moyers.

Rishell was a WPA Era artist ... In 1937 at the age of 20, Robert Rishell undertook painting Progress Through Labor as part of the WPA. It portrays the vital role of public works and unions, providing much needed employment during the Great Depression. Artists like Rishell were tasked with creating art meant to communicate that common people working together was how the nation would get through the hard times.

The video below explains where Rishell's mural was originally displayed, and how it was saved and restored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and now resides in the lobby of their offices in Sacramento.