Robert Kulicke (1924–2007) was a painter, frame designer and jewelry maker. Born in Philadelphia, he studied at the Philadelphia College of Art and Tyler School of Art before traveling to Paris, where he studied painting with Fernand Léger from 1949 to 1951. Returning to New York, Kulicke established a framing business in 1951 and developed minimalist aluminum and Lucite frames that became widely adopted by museums and contemporary artists. Although celebrated for his designs, Kulicke considered painting his primary artistic pursuit. Inspired by Giorgio Morandi, he created intimate still lifes of fruit, flowers and everyday objects, combining delicate observation with influences from medieval painting and Zen philosophy. He served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the UC Davis Department of Art in 1964. Kulicke’s work was represented by Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, connecting him to the broader artistic circle surrounding UC Davis. His paintings are held in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Buffalo AKG Art Museum.