He captured the spirit of Riverside through his masterful depictions of the city’s architecture. His work, which ranged from whimsical illustrations to precise draftings, will continue to inspire and illuminate the beauty of Riverside for generations to come.
Riverside artist Martin Tobias passed away at age 92. Martin spent fifty years as a Riversider, and his depictions of the city’s architecture help amplify the beauty of our buildings. Martin was a master of many techniques. From whimsical illustrations to point-perfect draftings, he captured the spirit of his subjects.
He brought an impossible lightness to the Terra Cotta and Concrete of the Mission Inn. The Inn may be his most visited subject, but he took inspiration from the world and brought his mixture of austerity and whimsy everywhere he went.
No artist ever dies, and his vision of Riverside will live on the walls of our city and beyond for generations. Not all cities have an artist like Martin; we should consider ourselves lucky to have shared the space with him for so long. Visit Martin’s website to see more of his work.
