Joshua Elias was born in Chicago Illinois on the shortest day of the year. Born and raised by a painter, weaned on the Art Institute of Chicago, a myriad of art openings, fairs and unusual occurrences, he grew up and into the world of Art in a very naturalistic fashion. The ‘shortest day’ entry came to inform him with his painting, focusing upon the seen and the unseen, an acute understanding of darkness with light, and artwork with a definitive bent and obsession within the area of the unknown. Abstraction portrayed as reminders of forgotten Spiritual locations are recurring themes in the artist’s works.
A sense of humor and optimism is key to a fluid dialogue between the Artist, his work and the viewer. Through the use of provocative titling of his works, along with a specific levity of expression within, this is communicated.
Elias studied at the Design Art and Architecture and Otis Parsons, after receiving his BFA at San Diego State University. Privately he worked with classical technique painter master Sylvana Barrett, consultant at the Getty Museum. He has received many honors including an Art Residency at Fundacion Valaparaiso in Mojacar Spain. Inclusions at the art collection at the Rand Corporation as well as commissions at the spectacular Viceroy Hotel are some of the artist’s highlights.
The artist is represented by Edward Cella Art and Architecture in Los Angeles.
Elias lives with his wife, artist Judith Liebe in Los Angeles as well as works in his studio in Santa Monica California.
