Bob Hest

Bob Hest is a Minneapolis-based figurative painter whose work unites classical draftsmanship with a deep emotional sensibility. Trained under mentor Jack Youngquist at Moorhead State University, Hest was grounded early in the discipline of drawing—a foundation that continues to anchor his expressive, character-driven portraiture.

Before returning full-time to painting, Hest built a distinguished career in music and entertainment, founding a production company with offices in Minneapolis and Santa Monica. His compositions for television and theater have been recognized internationally, with two collaborative works held in the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

In his current practice, Hest brings the rhythm and intuition of music into the visual realm. His portraits balance technical precision with psychological depth, evoking the quiet intensity of human presence. Influenced by artists such as John Singer Sargent, Hest seeks not merely to depict, but to reveal. Working daily from his studio in the historic Casket Arts Building, he continues to explore the figure as a vessel of truth, emotion, and connection.

Website: Bob Hest

Artist Model Feature: Vogue Magazine