A Lifetime of Art, Creativity, and Sports History
Meet Robert W. Pelkowski: The Artist Behind the Art
Before we share his artwork, we would like to introduce the person behind it: Robert W. Pelkowski, also known as RWP.
Robert’s sports illustrations combine expressive detail with a playful sense of humor. Through caricature, he gives athletes a larger-than-life presence, bringing personality and storytelling to the page.
This newspaper clipping offers a glimpse into his artistic history. It shows Robert and his son Steve with his hockey artwork. The accompanying caption describes his illustration of Jeremy Roenick and a Bobby Hull lithograph he created in 1971.
We’re pleased to introduce Robert through HSMH’s Art Stories and share his creativity with you, one artwork at a time.
Coming next: a closer look at his Bobby Hull hockey caricature.
Newspaper photo credit: Daily Herald / Scott Sanders.
Robert W. Pelkowski, affectionately known as RWP, is an American artist, illustrator, and cartoonist whose creative career spans more than six decades. His work combines humor, storytelling, athletic history, and a distinctive illustration style that has attracted sports enthusiasts and art collectors.
Robert began his formal artistic education at Lane Technical High School in Chicago before earning a bachelor’s degree in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
He later served two years in the United States Army, working as an artist in the Army Field Printing Plant. Following his honorable discharge, he pursued a career in commercial art and design.
The Chicago Blackhawks Years
In 1966, with the support of legendary hockey player Stan Mikita, Robert began working as a freelance artist for the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
His relationship with the Blackhawks continued for approximately 18 years. During this period, his illustrations appeared on hockey game-program covers and accompanied stories about players and special events.
In 1970, Robert introduced Sporticatures, a distinctive collection of humorous sports caricatures featuring professional hockey players. He illustrated more than 50 NHL players and later expanded his sports artwork to include NFL athletes.
His Sporticatures became collectible pieces of sports memorabilia, preserving the personalities and spirit of professional athletes through humor and illustration.
Beyond Sports: A World of Imagination
Robert’s creativity extended well beyond professional sports.
He developed Sport Mites, a collection of children’s characters designed to introduce young audiences to sports through entertaining and educational stories. These characters appeared in seven children’s books, a coloring book, and licensed merchandise.
He also created The Cartoon Shop, featuring humorous illustrations inspired by everyday professions, hobbies, recreation, and family life.
In 1983, drawing upon his lifelong interest in mushroom hunting, Robert developed Kids World – FUN-Gs, a whimsical series of mushroom-inspired characters.
An Artistic Legacy That Continues
Robert’s body of work reflects a lifetime devoted to transforming personalities, memories, and everyday experiences into expressive visual stories.
His artwork represents more than sports illustration. It preserves moments in athletic history, celebrates humor, and demonstrates the enduring value of imagination.
Today, his artistic legacy continues through the preservation and renewed presentation of his original creations, introducing his distinctive style to new generations of collectors and art enthusiasts.
Robert W. Pelkowski (RWP) — A lifetime of creativity, a legacy of stories, and an imagination that continues to inspire.