Bobby (Bob) Joe Nunn, retired art professor and gallery director at North Lake campus, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Bob was born in 1940 in Dallas, the city he called home for his whole life. He was an artistic fixture of the Dallas Art scene, maintaining a studio in the Continental Cotton Gin building in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas for over 40 years.
Bob is known for being one of the people who have contributed to the reputation of Deep Ellum as Dallas “original” Arts District.

His studio was an anchor for the studio complex. This is where Bob painted and shared his knowledge of painting with his many students, colleagues, friends and patrons.

He received a Master of Arts in painting from the University of Dallas in 1977 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from Southern Methodist University in 1983. 

Bob took a position as a professor of painting in the art department at Dallas College North Lake campus in 1979. 

In 1984 he also took on the role as the gallery director for North Lake. Bob retired from his role as gallery director in 2004 and from teaching in 2010.

It was in his painting class at North Lake that I first met Mr. Nunn. I had left Mississippi to try to find myself in the big city of Dallas. 

I enrolled in Bob’s painting class and immediately took to him. In trying to find out who I was, I realized that Bob had an honest and easy way of being himself. He was a gentle teacher who was not above dishing out tough love when it was needed. 

Bob, his partner Tom and I soon became friends. I valued their friendship and saw Bob as not only a mentor and friend but as a parental figure. 

I enjoyed the visits to their home which was filled with art and usually interesting people. The parties and holiday celebrations were something a person anticipated, with the food, and meeting all their interesting friends.

I know that I am the person I am today because of Bob and Tom’s love and guidance. 

I do not know who or where I would be today, if it were not for these two gracious people.

The world lost a kind and gentle person. His influence lives on in all of us who were fortunate enough to call him, friend, teacher, mentor, father.