American Realist James Torlakson depicts majesty in the mundane with everyday “Americana” scenes that include gritty suburban landscapes, traveling carnivals, standing fireworks booths, abandoned drive-in theaters, and autobiographical still life scenes from his Bay Area neighborhood. The realism in Torlakson’s work is oriented toward the sensuous consumption and reinterpretation of the real world. The artist is not interested in how closely he can mimic physical images in paint, but rather in how he can change and distort them to suit his personal aesthetic. Proficiently working in oil, watercolor, and aquatint intaglio etching, the artist employs European master techniques to create his compelling photorealistic works that pull the viewer in, much like the effect of the solo light on his neighborhood street at dusk. James Torlakson’s paintings and etchings have been widely exhibited both nationally and internationally, and many of his works are housed in the permanent collections of American museums. MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; San Francisco, CAOakland Museum of California; Oakland, CAAchenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts, California Palace of the Legion of Honor; San Francisco, CABrooklyn Museum; Brooklyn, NYAlbright Knox Art Gallery; Buffalo, NYMuseum of Art, Carnegie Institute; Pittsburgh, PAMuseum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design; Providence, RINew York Public Library, Print Collection; New York, NYChicago Art Institute; Chicago, ILLibrary of Congress; Washington, D.C.Delaware Art Museum; Wilmington, DEDenver Art Museum; Denver, COSanta Barbara Museum of Art; Santa Barbara, CADetroit Art Institute; Detroit, MIStanford University Museum of Art; Stanford, CAUniversity Art Museum, Rutgers University; New Jersey, NJDe Cordova Museum; Lincoln, MAJane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick, NJBoise Art Museum; Boise, IDUniversity Art Museum; U.C. Berkeley; Berkeley, CAArkansas Art Center; Little Rock, ArkansasHearst Art Gallery; Saint Mary’s College; Moraga, CA SOLO EXHIBITIONS2017 CITY ARTS GALLERY, City College of San Francisco, CA2013 OCEANA ART GALERY, Pacifica, CA2012 SFMOMA ARTIST GALLERY, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA2011 OLIVER HYDE ARTGALLERY, Freemont, CA2004 DISTRICT ARTS GALLERY, Birmingham, MI2001 33 GOUGH STREET SHOWCASE, San Francisco, CA2000 POWELL STREET GALLERY, San Francisco, Ca1999 CITY ARTS GALLERY, City College of San Francisco, CA1999 SANCHEZ ART CENTER; Pacifica, CA1997 FOG CITY JAVA; Pacifica, CA (funded by grant from Philanthropic Ventures Foundation)1997 SAN MATEO COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM, San Mateo, CA1996 ERIKSEN GALLERY, Half Moon Bay, CA1994 ART FORMS UNLIMITED; Pacifica, CA1993 HORVATH GALLERY; Sacramento, CA1992 CUDAHY’S GALLERY; New York, NY1991 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1988 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, C1987 CONCEPT ART GALLERY; Pittsburgh, PA1986 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1984 DUBINS GALLERY; Los Angeles, CA1983 GRAPHICS 1 and GRAPHICS 2; Boston, MA1983 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1982 MUSEUM OF ART, CARNEGIE INSTITUTE; Pittsburgh, PA1981 GELTER / PALL; New York, NY1980 GRAPHICS 1 and GRAPHICS 2; Boston, MA1980 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1980 RICHMOND ART CENTER; Richmond, CA1979 SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART; San Jose, CA1978 VAN STRAATEN GALLERY; Chicago, IL1978 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1977 GALERIE JURKA; Amsterdam, NL1976 ACHENBACH FOUNDATION FOR THE GRAPHIC ARTS, CALIFORNIA PALACE OF THE LEGION OF HONOR; San Francisco, CA1975 CONTEMPORARY GRAPHICS CENTER, SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART; CA1975 NANCY HOFFMAN GALLERY; New York, NY1974 JOHN BERGGRUEN GALLERY; San Francisco, CA 1973 GUMP’S GALLERY; San Francisco, CA1972 REISINGER GALLERIES; San Francisco, CA1972 ALMOND ROD GALLERY; San Francisco, CA EXHIBITION RECORDS 2011Open Road (3 person exhibition) Oliver Hyde Art Gallery, Fremont, CAAnnual Faculty Shows 2010; City Arts Gallery, C.C.S.F.; San Francisco, CA 2010CCA Alumni Exhibition; Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica CAAnnual Faculty Shows 2010; City Arts Gallery, C.C.S.F.; San Francisco, CARalph Borge A Symbolic Realist and His Circle, Hearst Art Gallery, S.M.C., Moraga, CAAmerican Art and Culture: Past and Present, De Young Museum, San Francisco, California2000-2009Annual Faculty Shows 2000-2009; City Arts Gallery, C.C.S.F.; San Francisco, CAComix/Cartoons Show; Rosenberg Library, C.C.S.F.; San Francisco, CACreative Roots; Rosenberg Library, C.C.S.F.; San Francisco, CA1999Watercolor: City Arts Gallery; City College of San Francisco; San Francisco, CaliforniaSpirit of the Coast; Impact Zone Productions; Cotanoa Lodge; Pescadero, CaliforniaMillennium: City Arts Gallery; City College of San Francisco; San Francisco, California 199810: San Francisco State University Art Alumni; Sanchez Art Center Gallery; Pacifica, California 1996Art From The Driver’s Seat: Americans and Their Cars: Kalamazoo Institute of Arts; Kalamazoo,MichiganArt From The Driver’s Seat: Americans and Their Cars: Hudson River Museum; Yonkers, New YorkSeventh Annual - All Creatures Great and Small: John Natsoulas Gallery; Davis, CaliforniaSurf’s Up: Bolinas Museum; Bolinas, California1995Art From The Driver’s Seat: Americans and Their Cars: Boise Art Museum; Boise, IdahoArt From The Driver’s Seat: Americans and Their Cars: Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois StateUniversity: Charleston, IllinoisFaculty Exhibition: Skyline College; San Bruno, CaliforniaHenrik Ibsen Park (private three person exhibition): Kings Mountain; Woodside, California1994Group Exhibition: Magidson Gallery; New York NYGroup Exhibition: Art Forms Unlimited; Pacifica CA1993American Paintings: Museum of Our National Heritage; Lexington MA1992New Horizons in American Realism: Knoxville Museum of Art; Knoxville TNLocal Landscape: PacTel Corporation; Walnut Creek CAOakland: Oakland Museum Collector’s Gallery; Oakland CAArtists of Skyline College: Peninsula Art Association; Belmont CASummer Show: Cudahy’s Fine Art Gallery; New York NY1991New Horizons in American Realism: Flint Institute of Arts; Flint , Michigan and PhilharmonicCenter for the Arts; Naples, FloridaSelections from the Permanent Collection: Achenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts, CaliforniaPalace of the Legion of Honor; San Francisco CALarge Scale Works on Paper: John Berggruen Gallery; San Francisco CASummer Show: Cudahy’s Fine Art Gallery; New York NY1990Group Show: Cudahy’s Fine Art Gallery; New York NYContemporary Realist Painting: Perception and Experience: Oliver Art Center, California College of Arts and Crafts; Oakland CAConcord Collectors: Walnut Creek Art Center; Walnut Creek CACollege of San Mateo Faculty Art Exhibition: San Mateo County Arts Council; San Mateo CA1989Collector’s Choice - Contemporary Paintings and Drawings from the Collection of Ron and Cherie Petersen: Pence Gallery; Davis CACapitol a’la cARTe (food images): State Capitol Building (presented by Natsoulas / Novelozo Gallery); Sacramento CAFaculty Art Exhibition: Skyline College; San Bruno CA1988Waterworks (three artists): Sierra Nevada Museum of Art; Reno, NevadaTorlakson Watercolors and Prints: Natsoulas / Novelozo Gallery; Davis CATorlakson Prints: Wenniger Graphics; Boston MABillboards: Littlejohn - Smith Gallery; New York NY1987 Realism: Art Museum of Santa Cruz County; Santa Cruz CADrawings By Contemporary Masters: Himovitz - Jensen Gallery; Sacramento CATwo Realists: Concept Art Gallery; Pittsburgh PA31st National Print Exhibition: Hunterdon Art Center; Clinton NJParkside National Small Print Exhibition: Communication Arts Gallery; Kenosha WIMainstream America: The Collection of Phil Desind: The Butler Institute of American ART;Youngstown OHPrints In Motion: Associated American Artists; New York NY 1986James Torlakson, Watercolors and Graphics: Bechtel International Center, Stanford University;Palo Alto CA1985The 20th Century: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Collection: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; San Francisco CAAmerican Realism: Twentieth - Century Drawings and Watercolors: San Francisco Museum ofModern Art; San Francisco CA 1984Recent Acquisitions: Achenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts, California Palace of the Legion of Honor; San Francisco CAThe Twenty - Third National Print Exhibition: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NY 1983Gene Baro Collects: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYWest Coast Realism: Laguna Beach Museum of Art; Laguna Beach CAThe American Artist as Printmaker, 23rd National Print Exhibition: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYContemporary American Realism, since 1960: Chicago Art Institute; Chicago IL1982 Contemporary American Realism, since 1960: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Philadelphia PA and The Oakland Museum; Oakland CAPerspectives on Contemporary American Realism; Works of Art on Paper from the Collection of Jalane and Richard Davidson: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; Philadelphia PA1981 Twenty - Second National Print Exhibition: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NY100 New Acquisitions: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYRecent Acquisitions in Prints and Drawings: Rhode Island School of Design; Providence RI 1980Realism: Civics Arts Gallery; Walnut Creek CAThe Light Is Different In California: Pratt Manhattan Center Gallery; New York NYAmerican Drawings In Black and White: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NY 1979Recent Acquisitions: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYRecent Acquisitions: Achenbach Foundation for the Graphic Arts, California Palace of the Legion of Honor; San Francisco CARecent Acquisitions: The Oakland Museum; Oakland CAVX International Soa Paulo Biennial, courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum and the International Communications Agency; Washington D. C. This exhibition traveled throughout Latin America.1978 Eight West Coast Printmakers: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYLeading Realists and Current Abstract Art: Madison Gallery; Madison NJ 1977Prints of the 1970’s: Museum of Fine Arts; Boston MA1976 20th Annual Brooklyn Museum Print Exhibition: The Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn NYContemporary Images in Watercolors: Akron Art Institute; Akron OH 1975Permanent Collection: Recent Graphic Acquisitions: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art;San Francisco CAPhotography and Hyper-Realism: M. Knoedler & Company; New York NYRealist Painting in California: John Berggruen Gallery; San Francisco CACalifornia Graphics Exhibition: Three Dimensions Gallery; Berkeley CA and Printmakers Councilof Great Britain; London, EnglandHyper-Realism: Liliane Francois Galerie; Paris, France1974 Selections in Contemporary Realism: Akron Art Institute; Akron OHFourth British International Print Biennial: Bradford Art Galleries and Museums; Yorkshire, EnglandWorks on Paper: Virginia Museum of Art; VAVariations on the Camera’s Eye: Smithsonian Institute; Washington D.C. and Occidental College; CA; Traveling Exhibition - South AmericaThree Printmakers Who Work From Watercolors: The Oakland Museum; Oakland CA 1973Young Talent: John Berggruen Gallery; San Francisco CA AWARDS and HONORS32 Purchase Awards from competitive exhibitions of prints, drawings, and paintings—including $5,000 award for purchase of a canvas - Behind Mc’Cann’s Garage - by the San Francisco International AirportFull size Billboard shown in various Bay Area locations depicting my art work — part of a 1981 promotion for the San Francisco Museum of Modern ArtPoster Commissions (design & illustration) 1984: 38th Annual San Francisco Arts Festival1994: Pacific Coast Fog Festival, Pacifica CATelevision Programs (about James Torlakson and his art work)1977: KQED, San Francisco 1986: Channel 8, Pacifica CA1994: Channel 8, Pacifica CA2002: PCTI, Pacifica, CAStructures: Buildings in American Art 1900 - 1997; John Berggruen Gallery; San Francisco, California Artist's StatementThe realism in my work is oriented toward the sensuous consumption and reinterpretation of the world I see. I am not interested in how closely I can mimic physical images in paint, but rather in how I can change and distort them to suit my personal aesthetic. When I paint an image, I break it down in my mind and put it back together in the second dimension as if it were a puzzle. The pieces of the puzzle are the compositional elements of shape, texture, light, value, hue, line, etc. If the elements are assembled harmoniously, the painting will function well as both an abstract composition and a realistic image.I have been working as a professional fine artist since 1971. My realist oils, watercolors, aquatint etchings, and drawings have been widely exhibited nationally and internationally. Many of my artworks are housed in the permanent collections of American Museums.I am best known for my photo-based realism, though working from life is still an active part of my creative process. My imagery has centered on “everyday” America; shifting over the years from trucks, to railways, to amusement parks, to waterfronts, to fireworks booths, to deserted drive-in theatres, to coastal landscapes. Through these shifts in subject matter, related architecture has been a steadily repeated motif.