Joshua Suda
Where reality, fantasy, and irresistible theatricality mingle, we find Joshua Suda. Born in 1978, Suda nurtured his aptitude for painting throughout his childhood, and not surprisingly decided he would pursue a career as an artist at a young age. He didn’t have to wait long for the world to notice him: at 25, Artist’s Magazine singled him out as a finalist in their 2003 Art Competition when he submitted his painting American Idol. The magazine’s subsequent article “A Second Look” lauded the artist’s ability alter reality, “reveal(ing) something about the world that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.” (Tom Zeit, Artist’s Magazine, March 2003)
Suda subtly seduces his audience with his play between ultra-photorealistic representation and haunting, or sometimes humorous, fiction. This play invites onlookers to participate in an intimate dialogue with his paintings, pushing us to question the boundaries between art and “real” life. Suda’s exceptional technical virtuosity blends meticulously with a shot of finely tuned imagination. In this way, his paintings seem to constantly refer to, yet firmly reject, the Renaissance ideal of painting’s role as a “window” into another world. Half-hidden faces break unexpectedly into the viewer’s space, and painted models pose behind painted frames encased in yet another frame. Playful and poignant, Joshua Suda’s work uses precise technical proficiency as a vehicle to coax and twist reality into something provocatively original.
Suda has been awarded honors in Graphics at the York Art League's fall exhibit, the Lapuka Award given at the Hazleton Art League's spring show, the Posatko Award for Excellence in Realism, and was published in the VSA Arts calendar for 2003. After his completion of formal study, Josh continues to research the craft independently and is currently an assistant instructor at The Waichulis Studio.
EDUCATION:
2000-2002 The Waichulis Studio, Nanticoke, PA
1997-1999 Painting/Illustration Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, PA
1994-1996 Private Instruction
EXHIBITIONS/ ART FAIRS:
2008 Boston International Fine Art Show w/Principle Gallery, MA
2008 Toronto International Art Fair w/Arcadia Gallery, CANADA
2008 U.S. Artist w/Principle Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2008 Trompe l'Oeil Exhibit Three Man Show, Principle Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2008 AAF w/Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY
2008 Art Los Angeles w/Arcadia Gallery, Barker Hanger, CA
2007 Group Show, San Marino Gallery, CA
2007 U.S. Artist w/Arcadia Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2007 Small Works Exhibit, Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY
2007 Hazleton Art League Spring Show, Hazleton, PA
2007 Alumni Show, Luzerne County Community College, Nanticoke, PA
2007 Calm Americans, Curated by Broad Street Studio, Johnstown, PA
2007 Art Los Angeles w/Arcadia Gallery, Barker Hanger, CA
2006 Small Works Exhibit, Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY
2006 Art Los Angeles w/Arcadia Gallery, Barker Hanger, CA
2006 U.S. Artist w/Arcadia Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2005 Capturing Realism, MacDonald Gallery, Misericordia University, Dallas, PA
2004 Masters of Illusion, Andreva Gallery, Sante Fe, NM
2003 Hazleton Art League Juried Show, Honorable Mention, Hazleton, PA
2002 Capturing Realism, Curated by Anthony Waichulis, Nanticoke, PA
2002 York Art League, Juried Show, 2nd Place, York, PA
1999 Luzerne County Community College Student Show, Nanticoke, PA
PUBLICATIONS:
2008 Create Better Paintings.com, June, by Jennifer King, Broad Street Studio
2008 American Art Collector, September Issue, Front Cover
2008 American Art Collector, September Issue, "Tricking the Eye"
2008 American Art Collector, September Issue, Full Page Advertizement for Principle
Gallery
2008 American Art Collector, May Issue, Full Page Advertizement for Principle
Gallery
2005 Artist Magazine "Modern Metaphors"
2004 Artist Magazine "A Second Look"
2004 How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Your Still Life. Published
by North Light Books
2004 How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint People and Figures.
Published by North Light Books
2004 How Did You Paint That? 100 Ways to Paint Your Favorite Subjects,
Published by North Lights Books