The Artist
Bio
Luigi Rocca was born in Porpetto, near Udine, Italy. The second of three brothers, Luigi was born to Francesca and Edgardo Rocca on December 26, 1952. Painting, woodcarving, chalk drawing and clay modeling became Luigi’s playful passions up through the years to the beginning of secondary school. His school books and notebooks were always closely connected to his artistic creativities. In 1980 Luigi deicded that it was time that the events that had allowed him to gain experience and maintain his lifestyle should come to a just end and that a new artistic cycle should begin. The years in Turin had been good. Luigi had worked with an art dealer of Turin, a man of considerable skill and with a nose for good business that had allowed him to work as an artist with a certain satisfactory economic success.
Turin
At this point, however, Luigi wished to expand his horizons.The years in Turin had been good. Luigi had worked with an art dealer of Turin, a man of considerable skill and with a nose for good business that had allowed him to work as an artist with a certain satisfactory economic success. At this point, however, Luigi wished to expand his horizons. America beckoned to him. So, without losing touch with his beloved Realism, his art became more contemporary. In 1996 Luigi returned to Venice.
He exhibits his artworks at Melori & Rosenberg Art Gallery. In 1998 he exhibited at Art Expo in New York, and in the following years many personal exhibitions were organized in the United Staes, in New Orleans and San Francisco, and in Germany, in Berlin and Hamburg.
Venice
After many years, LUIGI returned to Venice. In 2004 he accepted an invitation from the city of San Donà di Piave, which, in collaboration with Gallery Melori & Rosenberg, organizeda large solo exhibition in the city's Civic Gallery entitled 'Hyperrealism Impressionism'. In September of the same year, the Jewish Museum of Venice invited him for the solo exhibition 'Luigi Rocca: A new experience. Jerushalaim - New York - Venice', which was - as always - a great success.
In October 2005 Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts of San Diego (CA) organized a personal show, 'Luigi Rocca.City Views', in order to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the presence of Luigi's artworks in the Gallery.
Venice
Luigi took part at the grand opening in a 'virtual' way: via the Internet he could greet and thank his numerous collectors partaking the event in the U.S.A. Between April, 10th and July, 17th 2005 a giclee of his portrait of Pope John Paul II was exhibited at Musée de Fourvière (Lyon, FR) on the occasion of the show 'Ils habillent le Pape'. In September 2006 Gallery Melori & Rosenberg of Venice celebrated its first 10 year anniversary with the Artist with the solo exhibition 'Luigi Rocca. Urban Landscapes'. In 2006 Galerie Mensing organized some solo exhibitions in Germany entitled 'Luigi Rocca. New York Visions' in Munich, Hannover and Berlin, Hamburg.Since October 2007 his artworks are exhibited at Arnot Galleries, 57th Street, New York. In November 2007 Galerie Mensing mount other two personal shows in Frankfurt and
Venice
Düsseldorf entitled "Luigi Rocca Masterpieces". In December 2007 the personal show "Luigi Rocca - Back Home" was organized and mounted at Sant'Antonio Abate Church in Udin basing on an idea of Arch. Veronica Balutto in collaboration with Melori & Rosenberg Gallery The show was made possible within the "Art and Territory 2007" project thanks to the patronage of the Province of Udin and the contribution of several sponsors, and was - as usual - a great success according both to critic and public.