Inspired by the graffiti artists of East London, the poetry of Philip Larkin, the philosophy of Guy Debord, and the French student protesters of May 1968, Robert Montgomery’s text-based conceptual works are both cryptic and emotionally resonant. Montgomery began his career making minimalist sculptures with long, poetic titles. Eventually, he phased out objects altogether. In his current works, he writes verses such as “THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE BECOME GHOSTS INSIDE OF YOU AND LIKE THIS YOU KEEP THEM ALIVE” on billboards, light fixtures, woodcuts, and watercolors. His pieces often convey anti-capitalist statements, but the messages transcend politics. “The purpose of art is to touch the hearts of strangers without the trouble of having to meet them,” Montgomery says.