Luigi Rocca, the hyperrealist painter, was born in Porpetto, near Udine, Italy. The second of three brothers, Luigi was born to Francesca and Edgardo Rocca on December 26, 1952.
1968
At sixteen, Luigi gained renown at a student level as his work was much appreciated at city and regional art exhibitions. Figurative art became the object of his creations but landscapes also fascinated him. He turned to the past for inspiration, while remaining with his feet firmly planted in the present.
1980
Luigi wished to expand his horizons. America beckoned to him. So, without losing touch with his beloved Realism, his art became more contemporary.
In Manaus, upon the initiative of the Ministry of Culture and support of Brazilian authorities, a personal exhibition by Luigi obtained very favourable review.
1984
A simple exhibition at Turin’s Viotti Gallery consecrated Luigi in his adoptive city as one of the most prestigious artists representing hyper-realism, that much-discussed pictorial genre.
1987
Luigi met Giorgio Bordon, the manager of a reputable art gallery, the San Giorgio Art Gallery, in Portofino, Italy, where he exhibited his art for several years.
1996
Luigi returned to Venice. He exhibits his artworks at Melori & Rosenberg Art Gallery, his reference gallery in Italy. Since then, with the collaboration of the Gallery, he exhibited his artworks in many important solo exhibitions.
1998
In 1998 he exhibited at Art Expo in New York, and in the following years many personal exhibitions were organized in New Orleans and San Francisco.
2001
His official publisher, Melori & Rosenberg, published two artbooks (“Luigi Rocca. The Artbook” in 2001), and all the catalogues.
2004
Luigi exhibited his artworks in many important solo exhibitions:
- “Hyperrealist Impressionism” in San Donà di Piave – Venice – in 2004;
- “A New Experience: Jerushalaim – New York – Venice” at the Jewish Museum if Venice in 2004;
After meeting X Regio, official tailors of the Pope, he was commissioned the portrait of the then-Pope John Paul II, inspired to Fulvio Roiter’s picture. This painting was exhibited in many venues and its reproductions on canvas are displayed in many religious locations, including the Vatican.
2005
Luigi Rocca also took part into three relevant itinerant group shows organized by Melori & Rosenberg Gallery: “Venice – Views on Ghetto” (showed in the Ghetto of Venice, in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa in 2005).
He exhibited his artworks in a important solo exhibitions: “Luigi Rocca: City Views” at Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts of San Diego (CA).
2006
Mr Henry Mensing also gave Luigi Rocca a great contribution as a gallery: since 2006 many personal exhibitions were mounted at his art galleries in Munich, Hannover, Berlin, Frankurt, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Sylt.
In the same year, he exhibited in “Luigi Rocca Urban Landscapes” at Melori & Rosenberg Gallery in Venice.
2007
In October 2007 he met Vicki and Peter Arnot, who began representing his art throughout the USA until closing. At their gallery, located in the Chelsea district of New York, they organized five wonderful solo exhibitions and permanently exhibit ed his original paintings on canvas.
2009
Melori and Rosenberg publishes the second artbook: “Luigi Rocca. Eine Monographie” by Petra Schaefer.
2010
It opens in another traveling collective exhibition organized by the Melori & Rosenberg Gallery: “In the Space of the Cross” (exhibited at Chiesa San Salvatore and Chiesa San Rocco in Venice).
2016
The same traveling collective initiative of the Melori & Rosenberg Gallery produces: “As Time Goes By” (set up at the Gallery, at the Pesariis Watch Museum and at the Caccamo Castle in Palermo).
2017
In 2017 a great exhibition of his and his daughter’s paintings, “Father and Daughter”, was organized at MAC in Milan thanks to curator Luca Beatrice. The same year, his painting “Travel, live in the USA” was exhibited at the Reggia di Venaria (Turin) in the occasion of the huge exhibition “Easy Rider” curated by Luca Beatrice, Arnaldo Colasanti and Stefano Fassone.
2018
In 2018 an impressive personal exhibition was mounted at Castle Nynphenburg of Munich.
Recently
In recent years, Ghetto Et Cetera Art Gallery in Venice organized a double personal exhibition, 2 Painters in a Bubble, with Donatella Chiara Bedello and “Looking for America”, a personal exhibition celebrating his great love for the country.