Among Joshua’s most striking works are those of his wife, Laura. In 2012, “Portrait of the Artist’s Wife” was hailed as ‘deserving special attention’ during the historic America China Oil Painting Artists League exhibit at the Beijing World Art Museum. While “Laura in Black” was part of the prestigious BP Portrait Award 2016 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London and is the subject of his premier instructional video “The Layers of Portrait Painting”.
LaRock is represented by Collins Galleries, Cape Cod; Portraits, Inc.; Maxwell Alexander Gallery, LA; Stephen Ling, Beijing. He has participated in exhibitions throughout the US, Europe and China, is recognized as an Art Renewal Center Living Master, and is much sought after as a workshop instructor. Joshua currently lives in Austin with his wife and two children.
Artist Statement
I am dedicated to painting that invites humanity into the timeless story of beauty. We are all desperate for affirmation that things are more than what they seem, that we are part of a story bigger than ourselves. Art is evidence that this is, in fact, so. When arranged skillfully, simple pigments and ground earth have the potential to become emotion, love, narrative – in other words, within a painting these raw materials transform into something which is tangible but profound, and much more than the sum of its parts. Beauty generates wonder, shapes our desires for the good and true, and ultimately produces hope.
I am a champion of beauty – and in my work I have no other aim.
Representation:
- Collins Galleries – Cape Cod
- Portraits, Inc. – US
- Maxwell Alexander Gallery – Los Angeles
- Stephen Ling – Beijing
Selected Exhibitions:
2018
- American Masters, Salmagundi Club, NY NY
- Americans in Paris, Arcadia Contemporary, LA; L’Oeil du Prince, Paris
- 12×12 A Portrait Exhibition, Florence Academy of Art US, NJ
- LA Art Show, Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles
2017
- Art Renewal Center International Salon, Salmagundi Club, New York; European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona
- LA Art Show, Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles
2016
- American Masters, Salmagundi Club, NY NY
- BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London; Usher Gallery, Lincoln; Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
- Permanent Collection, New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain CT
- In Full Bloom, Portraits, Inc. NY NY
2015
- Paintings Acquired by the CS Lewis Institute, Salmagundi Club, NY NY
- Nude: A Figure Drawing Exhibition, Eleventh Street Arts, NY NY
2014
- Showroom Exhibition, LaRock / Klein Studios, NY NY
- Small Works, Collins Galleries, Orleans MA
2013
- LA Art Show, SR Brennen Galleries, Los Angeles CA
- Small Works, Collins Galleries, Orleans MA
2012
- ACOPAL: Contemporary American Realism Beijing World Art Museum, Beijing, China
- The Figure, Collins Galleries, Orleans MA
- Grand Opening McColl Fine Arts, Charlotte NC
- ACOPAL: Contemporary American Realism Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown OH
2011
- Expressing the Figure: Drawings from Life St. John’s University, Queens NY
- ACOPAL: Inaugural Exhibition of Contemporary American Realism National Arts Club, NY NY
2010
- Young Masters Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich CT
- Reviving Realism Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich CT
2008
- Jacob Collins and the Water Street Atelier Atlanta Art Gallery, Atlanta GA
- The Water Street Atelier Meredith Long & Company, Houston TX
Awards:
- 2016 BP Portrait Award, Laura In Black, National Portrait Gallery, London UK
- 2016 Purchase Award, Laura In Black, Art Renewal Center International Salon
- 2016 Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition
- 2015 Named a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center
- 2013 First Place $10,000 Prize, Grand Central Academy Figure Drawing Competition
- 2012 Finalist Art Renewal Center International Salon, Figurative Category
- 2011 Grand Prize Winner ACOPAL Open Competition: for membership and inclusion in the National Arts Club and Chinese Exhibitions
- 2011 Certificate of Excellence, Portrait Society of America International Portrait Competition
- 2008 First Place, Art Renewal Center Scholarship Competition
- 2007 First Place, Art Renewal Center International Salon, Drawing Category
- 2007 Second Place, Art Renewal Center Scholarship Competition
Teaching:
Workshops
- Core Instructor The Grand Central Atelier 2009 – 2016
- SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
- Artists To Watch Southwest Art Magazine February 2017
- Lessons In Layering The Artist’s Magazine Januart/February 2017
- Shaping Our Desires Fine Art Today April 2016
- Kate Spade Seeing Realist Art In A New Light October 2015
- In the Studio with Allison: Michael Klein and Joshua LaRock September 2015
- Two Artists Invited to a Chateau on the Riviera Plein Air Magazine December-January 2015
- Gallery Chronicles by James Panero The New Criterion January 2015
- The Real Deal China Daily September 2012
- Artists Making Their Mark: Three To Watch Fine Art Connoisseur October 2011
- Gallery Chronicles by James Panero The New Criterion June 2011
- Young Masters American Art Collector September 2010
- Reviving Realism American Art Collector February 2010
- The Grand Central Academy of Art: A Collective Vision for a Classical Revival American Artist Drawing Spring 2009
- Jacob Collins and the Water Street Atelier American Art Collector October 2008
- The Hudson River School for Landscape: Reviving an American Tradition American Artist Workshop Winter 2007
Education:
- 2006 – 09 Intensive classical drawing and painting study under Jacob Collins. Water Street Atelier, New York, New York
- 2007 Instruction in landscape painting and drawing in the tradition of the original Hudson River School. Hudson River School for Landscape, New York
- 2005 University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado Bachelor of Science in Music, Summa Cum Laude Major: Music Industry Studies with a focus in Music Business.
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