Urban Larsson, born on November 23rd, 1966 in Stockholm, has lived and worked in Amsterdam for the last 15 years. As well as portraits and figures, Urban paints still lifes and landscapes. He paints only from life and in a tradition that has evolved over more than four centuries ? sight-size.
The artist studied History of Art at the University of Stockholm and Architecture at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, and in Florence, Italy, at Studio Cecil & Graves. After his studies in Florence, he moved to Amsterdam to settle as a painter. His portraits are painted only from life through sittings. His studio catches light from the north and is a much-frequented spot for people looking for classical but non-photographic portraiture. He regularly paints abroad and his international commissions have come from England, Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and the United States.
His many sitters have included; the President of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Professor Dr. P. J. D. Drenth; the former Mayor of Wassenaar, Dr. P. H. Schoute; the Bishop of Haarlem, T. J. Horstman; the former Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands, the Hon. Count A. Pietromarchi; Willem F. C. Stevens (Baker & McKenzie) and Wim Meyer (Rabobank); as well as the official portrait of the ex Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok.
Urban has exhibited throughout Europe and in the United States. Since April 2007, he is painting in the former studio of G. H. Breitner (1857-1923) on Prinseneiland, Amsterdam. He is married to Lara who is Dutch, and they have three children.
