Port Arthur native and internationally known artist Robert Rauschenberg, 82, died Monday.

The artist, considered a pioneer in abstract expressionism, was probably best known for his screen print “Signs.” He created the collage after the death of his friend and fellow Port Arthuran, Janis Joplin. The print sums up the tragic events of the 1960s and features the late Sen. Robert Kennedy reaching out to a group of soldiers in Vietnam, a wounded black man reaching out to the body of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, astronauts walking on the moon and peace marchers.

Though Rauschenberg moved from Texas many years ago, he visited his hometown and was a staunch supporter of the Museum of the Gulf Coast and Lamar State College-Port Arthur.

Sam Monroe, president of LSC-PA, called the artist his friend.

“Bob Rauschenberg was quite an innovative artist and, as everyone knows, had a groundbreaking reputation. He referred to himself as an abstract expressionist. When he was called a pop artist he was offended by that,” Monroe said. “He had a wonderful career and was very generous to Port Arthur.”

Monroe said Rauschenberg visited the area and helped raise money for the Museum of the Gulf Coast and provided a collection of his materials to the museum that are on display now.

Rauschenberg also came back home to help raise scholarships for the college.

“We’re going to miss our good friend,” he said.

Rauschenberg created a special piece of artwork for the city’s centennial celebration and was on hand to autograph posters. Sales of the posters are used for scholarships at the college, Carol Wommack, administrative assistant in the office of the president at LSC-PA, said.

With a constant eye out for inspiration, Rauschenberg was a bit late to the event because on the drive from his home in Florida he stopped to take photos along the way.

The Museum touts a special Rauschenberg room where donated works from the artist are displayed. Shannon Harris, director of the Museum, spoke of the works of the man who changed the way people look at art.

“He is the first living artist to be on the cover of Time Magazine,” she said of the 1976 edition.

In 2002, a special piece of his artwork was featured on the cover of Time Magazine commemorating the one year anniversary of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

His four piece work, Star Quarters, features a silk screened mirrored Plexiglas thus allowing the viewer to be part of the art. His works are used for teaching purposes for children during special events at the Museum, she said.

Even as he entered his 80s he never stopped creating art. His last exhibition, “Runts,” opened to a packed crowd Jan. 11 thorough Feb. 16 in New York this year.