Roberto Rosenman was born in Venezuela and moved to Canada at an early age. Primarily self-taught, he also studied classical painting techniques with Tony Curanaj, Gregory Mortenson and Sarah Lamb at the Grand Central Academy in New York City. Rosenman received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Honors, at York University and went on to study graphic design at George Brown College.
A recipient of grants from the Ontario and Toronto Arts Council, he also served on the Jury for the Ontario Arts Council in 2016. Rosenman is represented by Loch Gallery in Toronto and Sugarlift Gallery in New York and his work has been included in exhibitions in both Canada and the United States. He currently lives in Toronto where he teaches Graphic Design at George Brown College and Humber College.
I describe my work as symbolist still-life. In the tradition of the Vanitas and Trompe L’Oeil, I use still life objects to describe the intricacies of human relationships and the ‘knots’ that people create within them. Like in the grain of wood, these knots are imperfections which emerge and disturb the normalcy of a relationship. In other work, I choose to depict everyday objects that are stripped of personal or emotional association and not normally worthy of regard. The technical aspect of realism is inextricably linked to my choice of subject matter in that is meant to force the viewer to imbue these otherwise mundane objects with a sense of importance.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2020- Art Toronto Art Fair, October 28–31, Metro Convention Centre (Online)
2019- Lock Gallery, Toronto. INTERPRETING REALISM, June 8–18, 2019
2018- 11th Street Arts, New York City. THE STILL LIFE: CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS
2017- Loch Gallery, Toronto. LAYERS OF REALITY- PAINTINGS BY ROBERTO ROSENMAN AND TYSON GRUMM
2016- Toronto International Art Fair. (October 28–31, 2016) Metro Convention Centre
2016- Loch Gallery, Toronto. IN THE GALLERY (February 13–27, 2016)) 16 Hazelton Ave, Toronto
2015- Loch Gallery, Calgary. BEST OF THE CONTEMPORARIES (Dec 5–19, 2015)
2015- Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa. A VISIONARY JOURNEY-The Terri Lipman Collection
2014- Loch Gallery, Calgary. BEST OF THE CONTEMPORARIES
2014- Loch Gallery, Toronto. SPRING SELECTION
2014- Loch Gallery, Toronto. CONTEMPORARY REALISM
2012 -Gallery 129, Toronto. SOLO EXHIBITION
2010- Loch Gallery, Toronto. GROUP EXHIBITION
2009- Toronto International Art Fair. (Sept. 2009) Metro Convention Centre
2008- Toronto International Art Fair. (Sept. 2008) Metro Convention Centre
2008- Loch Gallery, Toronto. BEST OF THE CONTEMPORARIES
2007- Loch Gallery, Toronto. BEST OF THE CONTEMPORARIES
2007- Gallery 129, Toronto. SOLO EXHIBITION
2006- Arta Gallery, Toronto. GROUP EXHIBITION
2003- Gallery 1313, Toronto. SOLO EXHIBITION
2001- Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Toronto
ART FAIRS
Toronto International Art Fair, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2021 Laurea Ciruls Painting Award- $7000
2021 Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Mid-Career Grant- $7500
2017 Toronto Arts Council Visual Arts Mid-Career Grant – $10000
2017 Second Place Winner, Artist’s Magazine Painting Competition- $1500
2015 Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Mid-Career Grant- $7500
2014 Chalmers Professional Development Grant- $7500
2003 Ontario Arts Council Gallery assistance Grant- $1500
EDUCATION
Grand Central Academy, New York (2015–2016)
George Brown College, Graphic Design Certificate (2010–2013)Ontario
York University, BA English/Visual Art (1996–2001)
College of Art and Design, 2 years of Drawing and Painting Program (1993–1995)
PUBLICATIONS
Loch, David, The Best of the Contemporaries, Toronto 2007
Artists Magazine. Meet the 34th Annual Art Competition Winners, March 2018
Alberta Views Magazine, October 2019 Still life with Pear, published.
TEACHING
Humber College – Part Time Faculty, School of Media and Creative Arts
George Brown College- Part-time faculty, School of Continuing Education
Avenue Road Art School- Drawing and Painting Instructor
JURY
Jury member for Ontario Arts Council, mid-career artist grant, 2016.
