SABS Guest Artist: Rob Kempinski - Early stages for Crape Myrtle and Ashe Juniper

Rob Kempinski has been doing bonsai for over three decades. His bonsai art reflects both his technical background and his assimilation of many bonsai
styles that he has observed while traveling across the globe. Living in Florida, USA, his large collection contains both tropical and semi-tropical trees. Some of his favorite species are Willow Leaf Ficus, Headache Tree (Premna microphylla), Buttonwood and Japanese Black Pine.
He enjoys sharing his art. He’s had trees on display at the World Bonsai Show in Washington DC in 2005, at the BCI Conventions in Saint Louis 2004, and Orlando 2002, at the American Bonsai Society Show in Saratoga NY in 2006, at all seven of the North American Bonsai Exhibitions in Rochester, NY, all the Winter Silhouette Shows in Annapolis NC and at many Bonsai Society of Florida Shows. For the past 25 years he has displayed trees at the Walt Disney World EPCOT Bonsai display. The trees remain at the display for several weeks and as a result millions of people see the bonsai next to the Japan and China pavilions. He also enters trees at local club show and served as curator for the Bonsai Society of Brevard permanent exhibit at
the Brevard Zoo. Judges have seen fit to grant his trees several awards including three times having trees selected in the JAL/WBFF Annual Top 100 Trees in the World Photograph Competition, winner of the American Bonsai Society 2002 North American New Talent Competition and runner up in the BCI Ben Oki award, and quite a few best in show awards. He’s provided several articles to bonsai magazines and has published an introductory
book about the art of bonsai. “Introduction To Bonsai, Growing and Appreciating Bonsai Across the Globe.” He also wrote the forward to Zhao Qingquan’s new book “Penjing: The Chinese Art of Bonsai: A Pictorial Exploration of Its History, Aesthetics, Styles and Preservation.” Rob has conducted many demonstrations, judged events and done workshops across the USA and in the UK, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa, Brazil, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. He has traveled all over Japan having been there 32 times and he lived in Korea for a year.
Due to his career in the US Space Program, he has had lots of leadership experience and has applied that to various bonsai organizations. He was the President of Bonsai Clubs International. BCI is the oldest global bonsai and stone appreciation society in the world. He is currently President of the Bonsai Society of Brevard. In 2025 he will chair the creative display of bonsai at the BSF annual convention.