Ex-Journey singer Robert Fleischman showcases artwork in new exhibit

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Robert Fleischman is a musician who used to be with Journey and wrote some of the group's biggest hits.

Now, he's focused on his artistic talents. ABC7's Janet Davies talked to him about an exhibit of his work now showing in River North.

"Wheel in the Sky" is just one of the songs Journey got from Robert Fleischman. But he's been creating visual art for decades.

"I started out when I was 13-years-old and I sort of got inspired by the Sergeant Pepper album, so I thought, 'Oh I can do that,'" said Robert Fleischman. "Music kind of took the front burner in my life, but between music and art, I just bounced back and forth all my life... and these I did on my phone."

He calls them "digital phone art collages." The exhibit is at the Hilton Asmus Contemporary Gallery this month.

"I usually work with a backdrop I find and then I'm able to pluck images out and start layering them on...and it's great," said Fleischman.

There's the "Duchess of Stratosphere" and another one called "Broken Heart" - with a lady in waiting as the galaxy spins by. There's a flying horse with oranges, a figurine eyeing pomegranates and a ballerina bou-rees' while hoisting oranges. Robert has a thing for fruit!

Astral reveries are out of this world. "Mr. & Mrs. Moon" loom, while ladies make music and magic.

You may have noticed that many famous musicians have the ability to create art. Robert has a theory about that.

"I think it's just right brain heavy, that's all, seriously," said Fleischman.

Robert's in Wisconsin now, but lived in Chicago in the mid-seventies.

"I always had a great time here and people have always been so great to me here, even better than the people in Los Angeles where I'm from, everybody's just really friendly here," said Fleischman.

The "World in my Eyes" exhibit runs through August 24.