Born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County, Bruce Lauritzen’s art reflects his Northern California roots. He attended the California College of the Arts (CCAC) on scholarship and went on to take his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Later he taught at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

His first solo exhibitions were in Milan and Rome, Italy, where he resided in the early 60’s. His work has been the subject of over 130 solo and group exhibitions since. Over the years, Lauritzen has explored many sensibilities in his painting, bridging between representation and abstraction, but, there remains, throughout his work, an authority and common thread of identity. In his on-going “Vessel” series, he has distilled his vision from real experience. Sailing has provided him both recreation and inspiration since the 1950’s.

Though frontal and graphic, his boat paintings are infused with nautical atmosphere. Simple, iconic, yet highly structured compositions hint of Lauritzen’s architectural experience. As a consummate draftsman, his conversation with line sets the foundation for his work, fusing rectilinear and lyrical rhythms…a visual poetry as an ode to boating where, quite literally, form follows function.

Lauritzen’s paintings can be found in many private and public collections worldwide, including locally, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Achenbach Foundation at the California Palace Legion of Honor. He says of his work, “My greatest adventures are in my art, where, in every painting lies a new discovery.”

Notable Collections Include:
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF) Osaka University (Osaka Japan) Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts Lucas Film Industries (Marin Co. & SF) California Palace of the Legion of Honor (SF) Robert Rauschenberg (NYC-FL) Bank of America World HQ (SF)
Christo & Jeanne Claude (NY)
Warner Brothers Studio (LA)
H.M. Engle Family Collection (CA)
Scripps Institute (LA)
Ben Swig, Fairmont Hotel (SF)
Wells Fargo HQ (SF)
Opera Plaza (SF)
US Real Estate corporation (SF)
Robert & Margrit Mondavi (Napa Valley)
International Trade Center (SF)
University of California, San Francisco Financial Securities Corporation (London) Calvo Family Collections (Madrid, Spain) Fairmont Hotel (SF)
Marian Parmenter (SFMOMA A/G)