Some of Everything by Robert Castillo

Robert Castillo is an upright and electric bassist, composer and arranger, & visual artist. This Kansas City native creates with the intent to imbue his environment with positivity in order to leave behind beauty in his wake. After graduating from North Kansas City High School in 2010, Robert attended North Central College in Naperville IL, majoring in Jazz Studies. Shortly after, he moved to the West Coast where he accepted a position with AmeriCorps as the K-8 Music Teacher at Fossil Elementary School in Fossil, OR (pop. 473). Along with developing his own curriculum, he taught lessons on various instruments including piano, drums, bass, violin, cello, and guitar. Castillo found himself with ample free time in the central Oregon high desert, during which he further developed his meditation practice, composed and arranged music, and created visual art.

Following his time in Fossil, Robert moved to Portland, OR where he founded the groove jazz ensemble The Sextet. When Robert moved back to Kansas City in the Fall of 2016, he reformed the group. Their third album, “Among Friends,” was well received, garnering recognition from Kansas City’s NPR member station. Aside from The Sextet, Robert performs all over the United States collaborating with musicians of any genre. Castillo also composes electronic music under the name “blob castle.”

In March of 2018 Castillo was challenged to create enough visual art to host a solo show that following December. Little did he know accepting this challenge would result in a deep and passionate love for creating visual art. As with music, his style is varied. His subjects include Post-Classic Mayan imagery, geometric abstraction akin to Kandinsky, and at times incorporates Van Gogh-like impressionistic backgrounds. The mediums he uses include oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and paint pens.

Robert is a firm believer in donating time through volunteering. He helps with several organizations including Art as Mentorship and Cross-Lines Community Outreach, where he serves as the Executive Vice Chair on the Young Professionals Board.