Was born in 1959 in Barcelona (Spain) where he still lives and works.
To the average Southern California resident, the subjects of Spanish artist Joan Longas’ paintings might seem strikingly familiar: Burger shacks. Liquor stores. Gas stations.
Longas’ lush, neon-lit landscapes elevate the ordinary – transforming everyday sights into spectacles worthy of notice. He treats a 19th-century Monterey lighthouse or a mid-century Pismo Beach motel with the same solemnity of a European cathedral.
Longas first visited the Central Coast in December 1983, tagging along on a trip with his then-girlfriend. He’s returned to the region multiple times since then. According to Longas, each trip to California lasts no more than three months. “I am fascinated, as usually only a stranger is, with ‘the ordinary vistas’ natives probably take for granted” he says. Still, the artist makes the most of each visit, crafting paintings with poetic titles that evoke the freedom and the solitude of the open road.
His color palette consists of a specific number of colors that keep coming back. Each scene evokes for him a personal story. The titles of his paintings are phrases from his favorite novels or poems, Kerouac, Chandler… Edward Hopper, Joaquín Sorolla, Diego Velazquez and John Singer Sargent are among the artists who have deeply impressed him.
He has been exhibited at the gallery Artima since 2014.
Exhibitions:
2023
In my sweet dreams – Solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Group Show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2022
Noir & Blanc – Group Show – Galerie Artima – Paris
30 anys de galeria – Group Show – Galeria Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Exceptional Pieces – Group Show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2021
The road is life – solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Foire européenne d’art contemporain Strasbourg – Galerie Artima
The fog was full of light – solo show – Galerie Artima – Paris
2020
Art Karlsruhe – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2019
Lights & Neons – Galerie Artima – Paris
2018
Promenade espagnole – Group show – Galerie Artima – Paris
Here comes the sun – Group show – Galerie Artima – London
2017
Des jours heureux – Galerie Artima – Paris
25 anys – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2016
Out East & back West – Galerie Artima – Paris
CK Contemporary – Group show – San Francisco – USA
2015
Foire européenne d’art contemporain Strasbourg – Galerie Artima
Idle reveries – Galerie Artima – Paris
Temps obert – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2014
Foire européenne d’art contemporain Strasbourg – Galerie Artima
Endless Summer time – Group show with Ronald Dupont – Galerie Artima – Paris
Impressions of a Stranger – San Luis Obispo Museum of Art – San Luis Obispo – California – USA
Pensant en tu – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Galerie Artima – Paris
2013
Affordable Art Fair – State-Of-The-Arts-Gallery – Hong Kong
Barcelona Dreams – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2012
Peces d’una col.lecció – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Nadal 12 – Galería Jordi Barnadas, à Barcelona
2011
En busca de lugares comunes – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Group show – Kroma Galeria d’Art – Sant Feliu de Guíxols- Girona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería El Quatre – Granollers
2010
Group show – Galería Mada Primavesi – Madrid
Group show – State-Of-The-Arts-Gallery – Hong Kong
Régime méditerranéen – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería el Quatre – Granollers
2009
Caminos contemporáneos- Galería El Quatre – Granollers
Dracs de Barcelona – Galería Montcada – Barcelona
Els indrets de la memoria – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
El Mar – Galería Montcada – Barcelona
Barnadas, Pintura, Barcelona – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Art i Darwin – Galería Montcada – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería el Quatre – Granollers
Group show – Galería Mada Primavesi – Madrid
2008
L’estiu del 2008 – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Paisajes humanos – Group show – Galería Montcada – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2007
Nostalgia – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
15 anys, propostes – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2006
Cinco pintores realistas – Group show – Galería Jorge Alcolea – Madrid
En el record i en l’abséncia – Galería Carmen Torrallardona – Andorre
La viatge – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2005
Mi ciudad perdida – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2004
Group show – Galería Carme Torrallardona – Andorre
Group show – Galería El Claustre – Girona.
El viaje y la huida – Museo del Ferrocarril de Vilanova i la Geltrú
Group show – Fundació La Caixa – Colecció Testimoni – Pamplona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2003
Transitori, provisional, passatger – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
ArtExpo Barcelone – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
Pequeño formato – Group show – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2001
DEARTE Madrid – Galería Jordi Barnadas – Barcelona
2000
Realisme a Catalunya – La Lonja – Zaragoza
El temps adormit – Atelier Sala d’Art – Barcelona
ArtExpo Barcelona – Atelier Sala d’Art
1999
Group show – Atelier Sala d’Art – Barcelona
ArtExpo Barcelona – Atelier Sala d’Art
100 retratos salmantinos – Palacio de Garci-Grande – Salamanca
Realisme a Catalunya – Group show – Santa Monica Art Center – Barcelona
1998-2004
Cartoonist – contributor in various newspapers and magazines
(El Adelanto – Salamanca, El Periódico de Catalunya, Sapiens, Journal de l’Histoire)
1998
Group shows – Galerie d’art Susany, Vic et Balcó, Cerdanyola
1986-1996
Works as a graphic designer
Education:
1976-1981
Massana school of Barcelona – degree in graphic design and illustration
Awards and distinctions:
2008
Medal of Honor – 3rd prize for painting Sant Cugat – Small Format
2006
Finalist in X National Painting Competition “Ciudad de Calahorra”
First prize Gràfica 2006 Encyclopedia Catalan
2005
3rd Finalist Prize for Contemporary Painting – Fundació Vila Casas – Torroella de Montgri
Third prize painting – Fundació Privada Reddis – Reus
2004
First Prize of the Foundation Crèdit Andorra, Andorra
First Prize Calassanç – Ciutat de Terrassa
2001
Finalist 1st prize Contemporary Painting – Fundació Vila Casas – Torroella de Montgrí