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PAUL LAURITZ Biography

Born in the small art colony of Larvik, Norway on April 18, 1889. Lauritz was exposed to art at an early age, studying with local and foreign artists in Larvik. At age 16 he moved to eastern Canada and found work in a mining concern. Working his way west, he worked as a commercial artist in Vancouver and Portland, Oregon where he began painting landscapes and portraits. The meager existence in commercial art work led him to Alaska with the Gold Rush. Unsuccessful as a miner, he returned to painting and became a close friend of artist Sydney Laurence. The two artists held a joint exhibition before Lauritz left Alaska. In 1919 he settled in Los Angeles and established a studio-home in the Lyceum Theater on Spring Street. When not teaching at the Chouinard and Otis Institute or in his studio, he made painting excursions to the Sierra, up the California coast as far north as Carmel, to Mexico (1921), the Columbia River (1924), and Norway (1925). While in his native land, he was commissioned by the King of Norway to do a painting for the royal palace. Lauritz was an involved member of the Los Angeles art community and served for six years on the Los Angeles Municipal Art Commission. A versatile painter, his subjects include desert scenes, portraits, snow scenes, landscapes, and marines. Still painting at 87, he died at his home in Los Angeles on October 31, 1975.

Member: Laguna Beach Art Association (charter member); California Art Club (Pres.); Painters and Sculptors of Los Angeles; Royal Society of Artists, England; Society of Western Artists; Southwest Art Association.

Exhibited: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1920, 1932; California State Fair, 1930; Oakland Art Gallery, 1932; Stendahl and Wilshire Galleries, Los Angeles; Golden Gate International Exposition, 1939.

Awards: dozens from 1920 in California shows.

Works Held: Hollywood Athletic Club; Laguna Museum; Pasadena Art Institute; Santa Cruz Art Gallery; Springville Museum of Art, Utah; University of California Los Angeles; University of Chicago; Ebell Club, Los Angeles; Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce; San Diego Museum.