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Adrian Gottlieb’s works
have been exhibited at the Panorama Museum in Germany, the Oglethorpe
University Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and the Pasadena
Museum of California Art, California. His paintings are in private
and public collections throughout the United States, in Europe
and Scandinavia including the renowned Wilton House collection
in Wiltshire near Salisbury, England.
Painting directly from life,
Gottlieb assiduously avoids the use of photographic reference
material or optical aids.
Born and raised in Vermont, Adrian
Gottlieb’s talent and observation skills were evident from
early childhood. He worked from his imagination, from life, from
rented taxidermy specimens, and copied 19th century zoological
drawings and portraits, building an early foundation for the
pursuit of representational expression.
By 15, Adrian had exhibited in the state capitol and been recognized
by Vermont's Governors Madeline Kunin and Dr. Howard Dean. His
painting of Abenaki Tribal Council members won second place in
the Congressional Art Competition and was purchased by the University
of Vermont for permanent exhibition.
In 1993, Adrian was chosen a
first place winner of the Young Inventors and Creators of America
Award, sponsored by The Foundation for a Creative America; a
Div. of the US Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright Offices. The
award culminated in a ceremony and exhibition held at the Jefferson
Building of the US Library of Congress in Washington, DC and
a commendation from Vice President Al Gore.
Eager for training in more hands-on,
applied drawing and painting, Gottlieb began investigating Atelier
study during his freshman year at Carnegie Mellon University.
He transferred to RIT where a major in Illustration allowed him
to pursue realist expression. He enhanced his fine art education
by attending Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy for
three summer terms which earned credit toward his BFA.
Under the tutelage of Charles
Cecil, Gottlieb was first exposed to the near lost drawing and
painting techniques developed from the Renaissance through the
early impressionists.
After attending an exhibit at
La Specola museum, Gottlieb returned to the US to pursue independent
study in gross anatomy and anatomical drawing through an arrangement
between RIT and Rochester University Medical School.
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He earned his BFA (with honors)
in 1998 and enrolled in the Intensive Drawing Program at the
Florence Academy of Art. Within a short time he was invited to
join the full Painting Program and studied with Daniel Graves
and Simona Dolci. Both had studied under Nerina Simi at Studio
de Nera Simi and had been inspired by their interaction with
Italian realist Pietro Annigoni.
In the Atelier and Academy tradition, select advanced students
typically serve as;instructors. Gottlieb served as an instructor
in varying capacities from 2001 through March 2002. He completed
his studies at the FAA, but remained at the academy through the
end of spring term 2002. While many FAA core students stayed
on for years, he left to focus on developing a more personal
style which was leading him to strive for luminosity and a more
"naturalist" interpretation of color.
Gottlieb stayed in Italy, painting
in his flat in a Tuscan farmhouse, and taught privately. In 2002
he was awarded the ARC International Scholarship Competition,
which gave him the opportunity to study composition privately
with long-time mentor Maureen Hyde.
In 2003 Adrian was offered a
private painting studio and teaching position with the Los Angeles
Academy of Figurative Art. During his two years as a faculty
member at LAAFA, Gottlieb was the first to introduce Bargue drawing,
Cast Drawing, life drawing (long poses), cast painting in Grisaille
to the LAAFA curriculum. He taught drawing and painting in oil
exclusively from the live model
Adrian left LAAFA in 2005 to
open a private studio in Echo Park, California where he dedicates
his time to his ongoing personal creative development, commissioned
paintings and painting for gallery exhibitions. He teaches painting
techniques two days per week.
Viewing Gottlieb's paintings
in person, one is immediately struck by the painterly quality
of his work; imparting a life force sorely missing in flat, Photo-Realist
work. While he has expanded his themes to include more landscape
and still life, Gottlieb’s passion remains centered on figurative
compositions.
Adrian Gottlieb is first and
foremost a professional painter. He offers highly personalized
traditional training in a small studio setting, designed in the
apprenticeship tradition, Gottlieb Studios & Atelier: Painting
the Figure in Oils.
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