James Torlakson
James "Jim" Daniel Torlakson (born February 19, 1951), is an American artist known for his photorealist oil paintings, watercolors and aquatint intaglio etchings. He is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Early life
Born in San Francisco, California on February 19, 1951. Growing up in the Westlake neighborhood of Daly City, Torlakson moved to Pacifica by the sea in 1971 where he has lived since becoming a professional artist.[1] He started drawing at an early age, encouraged by his parents, who entered a drawing of his in the San Francisco Chronicle "Daily Junior Art Champion" when he was six years old; he was awarded first prize.
He was also inspired by artist George Post, a Californian watercolor painter, who was his grandparents' neighbor in Oakland, California.[citation needed] His brother is American politician Tom Torlakson.[citation needed]
He studied general fine arts and received a B.F.A. in 1971 at California College of the Arts,[2] graduating before going onto complete a Masters of Arts in 1975 at San Francisco State University.[3]
Work
Torlakson’s photorealism subject matter and imagery have centered on “every day” America including trucks, railways, amusement parks, waterfronts, fireworks booths, deserted drive-in theaters and coastal landscapes.[1] His oils, watercolors, aquatint etchings and drawings have been exhibited nationally since 1971 within United States and Internationally,[4] with works housed in the permanent collections of many American Museums,[5][6] including San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,[7][8] Oakland Museum, Achenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts, Brooklyn Museum,[9] Carnegie Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design Museum; New York Public Library’s print collection, Art Institute of Chicago, Library of Congress, Denver Art Museum and the De Cordova Museum.[citation needed]
His art has been represented in San Francisco by John Berggruen Gallery, Reisinger Galleries, and Almond Rod Gallery;[10] and in New York City by Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Louis K. Meisel Gallery.
He was a professor at City College of San Francisco from 1999 to 2017. Other teaching experience also includes California College of the Arts and Skyline College.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b Bartlett, Jean (2012-08-21). "Artist James Torlakson's journey through the play of light; exhibit at SFMOMA Artists Gallery". The Mercury News. Pacifica Tribune. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "Glance Spring 2004". issuu. California College of the Arts. 2004. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
- ^ "Follow the Creative Sparks". SF State Magazine. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
- ^ "Public Art Collection | flysfo.com". flysfo.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "James Torlakson - Artist, Fine Art Prices, Auction Records for James Torlakson". askart.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "James Torlakson Auction Results - James Torlakson on artnet". artnet.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "James Torlakson, William Farley · SFMOMA". sfmoma.org. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "SFMOMA Artists Gallery - Work of James Torlakson and William Farley - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "Brooklyn Museum". brooklynmuseum.org. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ^ "James Torlakson - Biography". rogallery.com. Retrieved 2017-06-09.