Biography
Naturally gifted with a keen observation of life including the cultural, social, political and religious landscape in the world we live, Paul Torres' art embodies a rich imagination and is laced with social commentary with a soulful interpretation of everyday life. Paul was born and raised in Santiago Chile, in Las Condes, his birth name is Pablo Torres Urmeneta, his interest in art began at age 3 after being introduced to comic books. Early on, Paul also became influenced by Hollywood films, such as Film Noir, Horror, Detective and Westerns, and also by European Art, such as Baroque, Impressionism, Surrealism, and American Art. Coming to the United States for a one-year stay at the age of 9, Paul fell in love with the art culture in Los Angeles.
After immigrating to the United States permanently at age 18, Paul served in the U.S. Army, became a US citizen at 21 years old, attended Otis Parsons Art Institute, and then in 1998 he received his Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration/Fine Arts from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He had the privilege of studying with several prominent artists, such as Daniel Greene, Jan Saether, Albert Handell and many more, and also worked for many years in the Animation and Movie industry, as a character and background designer, he was a key character designer for a few seasons for DIC Entertainment "The Real Ghostbusters", an animated TV series, he worked on "Cool World" by Ralph Bakshi, and many more TV Shows, and Films. Paul actively shows in Los Angeles, across the US and internationally.
He has been a featured Solo Artist at various Galleries such as La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Grand Central Gallery, Chimmaya Gallery, The Hive Gallery, among others. And he has been part of many two person Shows, and group Shows such as the Copro Gallery, Distinction Gallery, Rico Gallery, The Hive Gallery, Muckenthaler Cultural Center among many others. Paul was also represented at the rental and sales gallery in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He has been written about in Cultcrusher, Legend, Juxtapoze, Reddoor magazine, Browndwarf Compendium Magazine, The Big Book of Contemporary Illustration and many more publications and sites throughout the world. Paul currently resides in San Dimas, California with his beloved wife Clara.
Artist Statement
I feel that art can help people in a variety of ways, as a form of communication, a bridge, a unifying tool,
it can help people see things with a new perspective, It can also help to inforthem of world events, history, culture and spirituality. As a window to a person’s own soul, as
entertainment, healing, and also as a tool for peace and understanding. Societies have always looked at
artists for spiritual messages.
Of course, all of us see things differently, according to our upbringing, culture, moral values, interest, etc. I’d say children see art in the most pure form, so art should not be made for only one group of people, but instead, it should reach as many people as possible. Some will understand it on one level, and others perhaps with more life experiences and education will see more of the underlying messages and hopefully enough will respond to it.
As an artist, this should be achieved with a grounded knowledge of academic Art training, Methods, and Techniques in the craft. Knowledge of the history of Renaissance painting and a thorough
understanding of Western Art and Culture, and an understanding of Eastern culture is beneficial as well.
In order to achieve the tools, technique and language to fully express oneself, one must come to a point of complete mastery of one’s craft. So one is able to devote one’s energy to the content of the work. Therefore one can fully develop a personal and unique vision, that hopefully will connect with people, I aim to make my work interesting, different enough, and original on every level possible.
I am always asking myself how can I make this, in a way that nobody has done it before, or in a way that I have not seen it before, in technique, color, value, texture, design, composition and content.
I will always begin by putting extra effort to design and value, because that is the core of a good painting, and the most important element of pictorial language.
I strongly believe that the world doesn’t need another painting. I don’t think there’s enough room for it, but we can all surely accept another masterpiece.
We live in a time now where everything competes for everyone’s attention, jumping at us from every
corner like videos, computers, tv, cell phones, radios, car horns, sirens, ads everywhere etc... We also live in
a time where people are talking less to each other. It is harder today more than ever to capture someone’s full attention. So therefore, in some ways artists have to think of all of this and join in the competition, so to speak, or completely ignore it.
An artist needs to make work that is powerful enough
to compete with the biggest colorful billboard, or the loudest song, and hopefully vanquish them.
I hope to bring beauty, hope, joy, faith, healing, happiness, inspiration, and move or stir someone, and promote self-awareness to people with my work, that apart from my family my work gives me plenty of happiness.
In the end I’d like my work to last through time, for as long as possible, because it is the product of my experiences of the time that I live in, and it comes from the love I have for life, people and the earth, and hopefully my work can enrich people’s lives in a positive way.
Sincerely Yours,
Paul Torres
Resume
Education 1998 BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA 1984 Otis Parsons Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Studied with Daniel Greene, Albert Handell, Joseph Mendez and at the Bruchion School with Jan Saether.
Solo Exhibitions
2023 La Luz de Jesus Gallery, "Keep the Shiny Side Up", Los Angeles CA
2016 Chimmaya Gallery, "Terra Firme", Los Angeles CA
2011 Bamboo Lane Gallery, Los Angeles CA, Fly on the Wall
2009 Grand Central Gallery, Santa Ana, CA, Idiosyncratic Behavior
2008 The Conference Room Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Norm Maxwell Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, High Low Brow, 2007 Bamboo Lane Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Terra Incognita
Selected Two Person Exhibitions
2008 Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA, Wish You Were Here
2008 The Conference Room Gallery,Beverly Hills, CA Meeting 1.4 2008 Koos Art Center, Long Beach, CA
2008 Harold Golen Gallery, Miami, FL, Living Dead
Selected Group Exhibitions
CM2arts(fka ChimMaya Gallery), Los Angeles, Ca, Feb 2024
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Dec 2023
1st Annual Postcard Show, Brassworks Gallery, Portland, Oregon, Dec 2023
Brassworks Gallery, "The Vault", Portland, Oregon, July 2022 Artbarla, "The Nitty Gritty group Art Show", Los Angeles CA, Feb 2022
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, "In My Room", Los Angeles CA, Feb 2022 La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Onward 2.0, Los Angeles CA, March 2021
Garage Gallery, "Nature themed Show", LA, CA, Sept 2019 Garage Gallery, "4 year anniversary Show", LA, CA, July 2019 Garage Gallery, "Group Show", Los Angeles CA, May 2019
"Nude Art LA" Art Share LA, Los Angeles CA, Sept 2018
"13th Anniversary Exhibition" Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, July 2018
"El Festival de las Flores" Neutra Museum, Glendale, CA, April 2018
"Pop-Surreal Playhouse" Art Share LA, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 2017
"drinkinsmokinwestcoastin" at Think Tank Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, August 2017
"The Inmigrant Artist Group Show", Neutra Museum, Glendale, CA, March 201 7
"We the people", downtown artwalk,artwalk lounge, Los Angeles, CA, January 2017
"New Year, New Art" Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum, Los Angeles, CA, January 2017
"Annual December Group Show" Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, December 2016
3rd Annual Sagrado Corazon / 1st Annual Virgen Exhibition, ChimMaya Gallery Los Angeles,CA, May 2016
11 yr anniversary, the Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, April 2016 October/Fall Exhibition, ChimMaya Gallery,Los Angeles, CA October 2015
The 3rd Annual Coaster Show, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Sept 2015 10 yr anniversary, Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, May 2015 10 yr anniversary, the Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, April 2015 Laluzapalooza, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, March 2015
Service, Muzeo Museum, Anaheim, CA, November 2014
Freak Wave, Galerie Grand'rue, Poitiers, France, Oct 2014 Spectrum-Gestalt, Bleicher Project Space, Santa Monica, CA 2014
CAJA , Gallery 423 West, LA, California, July 2013
Museum of Eroticism, Paris, France 2012
L'Etrange Peuple de Freak Wave, Paris, France 2012-2013
Latin Fusion, Noho Gallery, North Hollywood, CA, Featured Artist 2011
WWA Gallery, Culver City, Lilacs out of the dead land 2010
The Alternative Café , Seaside, CA, Beautiful Dreamers 2010 “100 Artists see satan”,Grand Central Gallery,Santa Ana, CA 2010 Lighting in a Bottle Festival, Irvine CA, Live Painter 2009 ”Saturnalia”, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
Cave Gallery 2009
"En fuego", The Alternative Cafe Gallery. Seaside, CA 2009 ”Everything but the Kitschen Sync”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery 2009 “High Fructose”, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009 "Transformation", Create Fixate, Los Angeles, CA 2009
The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
United Cat-Safari Sam's, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Project 57", Distinction Gallery, Escondido, CA 2009
"99 Red Balloons", Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA 2009 "Chupacabras", Solid Gallery One, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Don't go to the Mall", Julie Rico Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Love and Bullets", The Grind, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"The Son of Sin & Mystic Blockhead", Koos Art Center, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"Pussy and the Pooch", Beach Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"Brushes, Needles & Burnouts", Kustom Kulture Gallery, New York, NY 2008
"Kiss the Canvas", Kustom Kulture, Baldwin, NY "SurfBEAT" 2008
The Light Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA "Having Fun with Animals" 2008
Monkey House, Silver Lake, CA 2008
"Blood Work", The ARTery Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA 2008
"Bustin' Out", Rock Rose Gallery, Highland Park, CA 2008
"Lightning in a Bottle" Festival, The Do Lab, Santa Barbara, CA 2008
Mountain Bar, Los Angeles, CA 2007 "
JCMAS", The Conference Room Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA 2007 Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA "SK8 Deck the Halls" 2007
Windup Gallery, Mesa, AZ "Halloween Group Show" 2007
Windup Gallery, Mesa, AZ "The Bagavagabonds Bohemian Circus" 2007
Epoxy box, Venice, CA "Brushes, Needles & Burnouts 2007
Kustom Kulture Gallery, New York, NY 2007
"Fresh Paint, Old Master Style", Hangar 1018, Los Angeles CA 2007
The Venice Contemporary, Venice, CA 2007
"Flags Unflown", Truxtop Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Lighting in a Bottle" Festival, The Do Lab, Santa Barbara, CA 2007
"Dreams and Aspirations", Hangar 1018, Santa Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Cannibal Flower", Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Cannibal Flower 6th Anniversary", Infusion Gallery, LosAngeles,CA 2006
"LA Ethos", Pharmika, Los Angeles, CA 2006
"Film Roman/Level 13", Rico Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 1998
Art Center College of Design Student Show, Pasadena, CA 1995 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Rental and Sales Gallery (Represented from 1991 to 1995) 1988
Los Alamitos Cultural Center Annual Show, Los Alamitos, CA 1986
Expressions of the Human Figure", Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA 1986
Cypress College Student Show, Cypress, CA 1986
Anaheim Art Association Art Shows, Anaheim CA 1986
Bibliography
2019 featured on Joaquin magazine, June issue N 81
2012 Freak Wave Magazine N3 2011
Four of my Paintings were featured on CBS NCIS-LA Television November Show 2009 Cultcrusher Magazine
2008 The Citizen,
September 2008 Legend Magazine, Issue 18
2007 Juxtapoz Tuesday, 16 October 2007
1995 Pilot News San Pedro 1988 Long Beach News, Vol 61 No 18
Private Collections & Commissions List available upon request
Naturally gifted with a keen observation of life including the cultural, social, political and religious landscape in the world we live, Paul Torres' art embodies a rich imagination and is laced with social commentary with a soulful interpretation of everyday life. Paul was born and raised in Santiago Chile, in Las Condes, his birth name is Pablo Torres Urmeneta, his interest in art began at age 3 after being introduced to comic books. Early on, Paul also became influenced by Hollywood films, such as Film Noir, Horror, Detective and Westerns, and also by European Art, such as Baroque, Impressionism, Surrealism, and American Art. Coming to the United States for a one-year stay at the age of 9, Paul fell in love with the art culture in Los Angeles.
After immigrating to the United States permanently at age 18, Paul served in the U.S. Army, became a US citizen at 21 years old, attended Otis Parsons Art Institute, and then in 1998 he received his Bachelor of Fine Art in Illustration/Fine Arts from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He had the privilege of studying with several prominent artists, such as Daniel Greene, Jan Saether, Albert Handell and many more, and also worked for many years in the Animation and Movie industry, as a character and background designer, he was a key character designer for a few seasons for DIC Entertainment "The Real Ghostbusters", an animated TV series, he worked on "Cool World" by Ralph Bakshi, and many more TV Shows, and Films. Paul actively shows in Los Angeles, across the US and internationally.
He has been a featured Solo Artist at various Galleries such as La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Grand Central Gallery, Chimmaya Gallery, The Hive Gallery, among others. And he has been part of many two person Shows, and group Shows such as the Copro Gallery, Distinction Gallery, Rico Gallery, The Hive Gallery, Muckenthaler Cultural Center among many others. Paul was also represented at the rental and sales gallery in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. He has been written about in Cultcrusher, Legend, Juxtapoze, Reddoor magazine, Browndwarf Compendium Magazine, The Big Book of Contemporary Illustration and many more publications and sites throughout the world. Paul currently resides in San Dimas, California with his beloved wife Clara.
Artist Statement
I feel that art can help people in a variety of ways, as a form of communication, a bridge, a unifying tool,
it can help people see things with a new perspective, It can also help to inforthem of world events, history, culture and spirituality. As a window to a person’s own soul, as
entertainment, healing, and also as a tool for peace and understanding. Societies have always looked at
artists for spiritual messages.
Of course, all of us see things differently, according to our upbringing, culture, moral values, interest, etc. I’d say children see art in the most pure form, so art should not be made for only one group of people, but instead, it should reach as many people as possible. Some will understand it on one level, and others perhaps with more life experiences and education will see more of the underlying messages and hopefully enough will respond to it.
As an artist, this should be achieved with a grounded knowledge of academic Art training, Methods, and Techniques in the craft. Knowledge of the history of Renaissance painting and a thorough
understanding of Western Art and Culture, and an understanding of Eastern culture is beneficial as well.
In order to achieve the tools, technique and language to fully express oneself, one must come to a point of complete mastery of one’s craft. So one is able to devote one’s energy to the content of the work. Therefore one can fully develop a personal and unique vision, that hopefully will connect with people, I aim to make my work interesting, different enough, and original on every level possible.
I am always asking myself how can I make this, in a way that nobody has done it before, or in a way that I have not seen it before, in technique, color, value, texture, design, composition and content.
I will always begin by putting extra effort to design and value, because that is the core of a good painting, and the most important element of pictorial language.
I strongly believe that the world doesn’t need another painting. I don’t think there’s enough room for it, but we can all surely accept another masterpiece.
We live in a time now where everything competes for everyone’s attention, jumping at us from every
corner like videos, computers, tv, cell phones, radios, car horns, sirens, ads everywhere etc... We also live in
a time where people are talking less to each other. It is harder today more than ever to capture someone’s full attention. So therefore, in some ways artists have to think of all of this and join in the competition, so to speak, or completely ignore it.
An artist needs to make work that is powerful enough
to compete with the biggest colorful billboard, or the loudest song, and hopefully vanquish them.
I hope to bring beauty, hope, joy, faith, healing, happiness, inspiration, and move or stir someone, and promote self-awareness to people with my work, that apart from my family my work gives me plenty of happiness.
In the end I’d like my work to last through time, for as long as possible, because it is the product of my experiences of the time that I live in, and it comes from the love I have for life, people and the earth, and hopefully my work can enrich people’s lives in a positive way.
Sincerely Yours,
Paul Torres
Resume
Education 1998 BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA 1984 Otis Parsons Art Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Studied with Daniel Greene, Albert Handell, Joseph Mendez and at the Bruchion School with Jan Saether.
Solo Exhibitions
2023 La Luz de Jesus Gallery, "Keep the Shiny Side Up", Los Angeles CA
2016 Chimmaya Gallery, "Terra Firme", Los Angeles CA
2011 Bamboo Lane Gallery, Los Angeles CA, Fly on the Wall
2009 Grand Central Gallery, Santa Ana, CA, Idiosyncratic Behavior
2008 The Conference Room Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2008 Norm Maxwell Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, High Low Brow, 2007 Bamboo Lane Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Terra Incognita
Selected Two Person Exhibitions
2008 Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA, Wish You Were Here
2008 The Conference Room Gallery,Beverly Hills, CA Meeting 1.4 2008 Koos Art Center, Long Beach, CA
2008 Harold Golen Gallery, Miami, FL, Living Dead
Selected Group Exhibitions
CM2arts(fka ChimMaya Gallery), Los Angeles, Ca, Feb 2024
ChimMaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Dec 2023
1st Annual Postcard Show, Brassworks Gallery, Portland, Oregon, Dec 2023
Brassworks Gallery, "The Vault", Portland, Oregon, July 2022 Artbarla, "The Nitty Gritty group Art Show", Los Angeles CA, Feb 2022
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, "In My Room", Los Angeles CA, Feb 2022 La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Onward 2.0, Los Angeles CA, March 2021
Garage Gallery, "Nature themed Show", LA, CA, Sept 2019 Garage Gallery, "4 year anniversary Show", LA, CA, July 2019 Garage Gallery, "Group Show", Los Angeles CA, May 2019
"Nude Art LA" Art Share LA, Los Angeles CA, Sept 2018
"13th Anniversary Exhibition" Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, July 2018
"El Festival de las Flores" Neutra Museum, Glendale, CA, April 2018
"Pop-Surreal Playhouse" Art Share LA, Los Angeles, CA, Sept 2017
"drinkinsmokinwestcoastin" at Think Tank Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, August 2017
"The Inmigrant Artist Group Show", Neutra Museum, Glendale, CA, March 201 7
"We the people", downtown artwalk,artwalk lounge, Los Angeles, CA, January 2017
"New Year, New Art" Neutra Institute Gallery & Museum, Los Angeles, CA, January 2017
"Annual December Group Show" Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, December 2016
3rd Annual Sagrado Corazon / 1st Annual Virgen Exhibition, ChimMaya Gallery Los Angeles,CA, May 2016
11 yr anniversary, the Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, April 2016 October/Fall Exhibition, ChimMaya Gallery,Los Angeles, CA October 2015
The 3rd Annual Coaster Show, La Luz De Jesus Gallery, Sept 2015 10 yr anniversary, Chimmaya Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, May 2015 10 yr anniversary, the Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, April 2015 Laluzapalooza, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, March 2015
Service, Muzeo Museum, Anaheim, CA, November 2014
Freak Wave, Galerie Grand'rue, Poitiers, France, Oct 2014 Spectrum-Gestalt, Bleicher Project Space, Santa Monica, CA 2014
CAJA , Gallery 423 West, LA, California, July 2013
Museum of Eroticism, Paris, France 2012
L'Etrange Peuple de Freak Wave, Paris, France 2012-2013
Latin Fusion, Noho Gallery, North Hollywood, CA, Featured Artist 2011
WWA Gallery, Culver City, Lilacs out of the dead land 2010
The Alternative Café , Seaside, CA, Beautiful Dreamers 2010 “100 Artists see satan”,Grand Central Gallery,Santa Ana, CA 2010 Lighting in a Bottle Festival, Irvine CA, Live Painter 2009 ”Saturnalia”, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
Cave Gallery 2009
"En fuego", The Alternative Cafe Gallery. Seaside, CA 2009 ”Everything but the Kitschen Sync”, La Luz de Jesus Gallery 2009 “High Fructose”, Copro Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009 "Transformation", Create Fixate, Los Angeles, CA 2009
The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
United Cat-Safari Sam's, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Project 57", Distinction Gallery, Escondido, CA 2009
"99 Red Balloons", Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock, CA 2009 "Chupacabras", Solid Gallery One, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Don't go to the Mall", Julie Rico Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2009
"Love and Bullets", The Grind, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"The Son of Sin & Mystic Blockhead", Koos Art Center, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"Pussy and the Pooch", Beach Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2008
"Brushes, Needles & Burnouts", Kustom Kulture Gallery, New York, NY 2008
"Kiss the Canvas", Kustom Kulture, Baldwin, NY "SurfBEAT" 2008
The Light Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA "Having Fun with Animals" 2008
Monkey House, Silver Lake, CA 2008
"Blood Work", The ARTery Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA 2008
"Bustin' Out", Rock Rose Gallery, Highland Park, CA 2008
"Lightning in a Bottle" Festival, The Do Lab, Santa Barbara, CA 2008
Mountain Bar, Los Angeles, CA 2007 "
JCMAS", The Conference Room Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA 2007 Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
The Hive Gallery, Los Angeles, CA "SK8 Deck the Halls" 2007
Windup Gallery, Mesa, AZ "Halloween Group Show" 2007
Windup Gallery, Mesa, AZ "The Bagavagabonds Bohemian Circus" 2007
Epoxy box, Venice, CA "Brushes, Needles & Burnouts 2007
Kustom Kulture Gallery, New York, NY 2007
"Fresh Paint, Old Master Style", Hangar 1018, Los Angeles CA 2007
The Venice Contemporary, Venice, CA 2007
"Flags Unflown", Truxtop Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Lighting in a Bottle" Festival, The Do Lab, Santa Barbara, CA 2007
"Dreams and Aspirations", Hangar 1018, Santa Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Cannibal Flower", Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2007
"Cannibal Flower 6th Anniversary", Infusion Gallery, LosAngeles,CA 2006
"LA Ethos", Pharmika, Los Angeles, CA 2006
"Film Roman/Level 13", Rico Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 1998
Art Center College of Design Student Show, Pasadena, CA 1995 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA Rental and Sales Gallery (Represented from 1991 to 1995) 1988
Los Alamitos Cultural Center Annual Show, Los Alamitos, CA 1986
Expressions of the Human Figure", Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Fullerton, CA 1986
Cypress College Student Show, Cypress, CA 1986
Anaheim Art Association Art Shows, Anaheim CA 1986
Bibliography
2019 featured on Joaquin magazine, June issue N 81
2012 Freak Wave Magazine N3 2011
Four of my Paintings were featured on CBS NCIS-LA Television November Show 2009 Cultcrusher Magazine
2008 The Citizen,
September 2008 Legend Magazine, Issue 18
2007 Juxtapoz Tuesday, 16 October 2007
1995 Pilot News San Pedro 1988 Long Beach News, Vol 61 No 18
Private Collections & Commissions List available upon request
