Born in Codroipo, a small village only a few miles from Venice, Italy in 1905, the son of a stonemason. Bosa emigrated to the U.S. at age 18 after studies at the Accademia della Belle Arti in Venice and became an American citizen. He then studied under John Sloan, of the Ashcan School, at the Art Students League in New York. A distinguished painter, Louis Bosa's work has been likened to that of artists ranging from Pieter Breughel the Elder to John Sloan and the Ashcan School.
Being an acute observer of the human condition, Bosa's paintings, which are primarily oil on canvas, often focus on people and street scenes from his native Italy. Bosa was known to have followed his subjects around, making many sketches and mental notes, and combined his observations in the final work to create visionary, fantastical images. The subjects of his paintings are highly stylized and expressionistic, and border on caricature. "People are so funny at times they are sad," he said: The people in his paintings are accessible and seem to portray human emotion and everyday life, conquering such concepts as mortality, humility and sometimes futility. His work often reveals comedy in the midst of tragedy. Many of his paintings include whimsical images of nuns riding bicycles and similar authority figures engaged in mundane activities.
He traveled extensively through Europe and often returned to his native Italy. Bosa painted for the Works Progress Administration and the Whitney Museum. He taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art, the New York Art Students League, the Parsons School of Design, Syracuse University, and the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. His paintings and watercolors are on display at many well-known art studios and museums across the United States such as:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York
The Whitney Museum - New York
The Philadelphia Museum - Pennsylvania
The Worcester Museum - Massachusetts
The Springfield Museum - Massachusetts
The Toronto Art Museum - Canada
Notre Dame University Museum
The Butler Museum - Ohio
The Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts - Ohio
The University of Illinois - Illinois
The Montclair Museum - New Jersey
The James A. Michener Art Museum - Doylestown, Pennsylvania
The Clearwater Museum - Florida
The Wilmington Museum - Delaware
The Athenian Museum - Connecticut
The Herron Art Institute - Indiana
The Rochester Museum - New York
The Delgado Museum - New Orleans
The Richmond Art Museum - Virginia
The Academy of Arts and Letters
The Hosanna Fund
The Encyclopedia Britannica Collections
International Business Machines
The Syracuse Museum - New York
Works by Louis Bosa
Sun Down Louis Bosa
Bucks County, 1934 Louis Bosa
Two Wagons, Bucks County, PA, 1934 Louis Bosa
Skinny Dippers Louis Bosa
The Beach Louis Bosa
The Serenade, c. 1950 Louis Bosa
Misericordia Louis Bosa
Fishing Wharf Rockport Louis Bosa
Venice Canalscape, c. 1950 Louis Bosa
Procession Louis Bosa
Island of the Monks, c. 1960 Louis Bosa
The Artist as Christ, 1960 Louis Bosa
Whimsical Cocktail Sketch, ca. 1960 Louis Bosa
Cathedral in Venice Louis Bosa
Art Class, 1961 Louis Bosa
Life Cycle, 1966 Louis Bosa
A Meeting of the Monks, 1966 Louis Bosa
Flood in Venice, c. 1970 Louis Bosa
Rockport, 1971 Louis Bosa
Fancy Dress Party, c.1945 Louis Bosa
Masquerade Louis Bosa
Fantasy Flight of a Bird with two Children Louis Bosa
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View from the Plaza, 1945 Louis Bosa
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Skiing Priests Louis Bosa
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Horse Cart in Snow, Central Park, New York Louis Bosa
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Woman Raking in a Yard with Church Spire and Dome Louis Bosa
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New York City Street Scenes, 1930 Louis Bosa
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Coney Island, ca. 1930 Louis Bosa
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Lunch Break Louis Bosa
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Cabin in Snow, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1934 Louis Bosa
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Rail Scenes, New York City, 1934 Louis Bosa
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Rooftops, New York City, 1934 Louis Bosa
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Skaters, c. 1935 Louis Bosa
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Evening on the North River, 1943 Louis Bosa
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Snow Storm, New York City, c. 1944 Louis Bosa
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Lower Eastside, NYC, c.1945 Louis Bosa
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Dinner for One Louis Bosa
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Fish and a Martini Louis Bosa
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Top Hat Gentleman and Lady Louis Bosa
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Monkey Business, 1948 Louis Bosa
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Procession of Friars, c.1950 Louis Bosa
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Bullfight, 1950 Louis Bosa
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Self Portrait I Louis Bosa
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Watching the Game Louis Bosa
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Still Life of Flowers, c.1950 Louis Bosa
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Riviera Louis Bosa
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Costume Party Scene Louis Bosa
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Cardinal and Clerks Louis Bosa
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Three Flying Figures Louis Bosa
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Courtyard in Venice, 1951 Louis Bosa
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Cafe Piccolo, c. 1951 Louis Bosa
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Harlequin Louis Bosa
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San Barnaba, c.1951 Louis Bosa
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Cocktails for Two, Grand Canal, Venice, 1951 Louis Bosa
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An Evening Prayer, 1952 Louis Bosa
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The Onlooker, 1952 Louis Bosa
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Skiing Nuns Louis Bosa
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Flying Nuns Louis Bosa
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Monks Clowning, c. 1960 Louis Bosa
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The Graceful Monk, 1963 Louis Bosa
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Louis Bosa, In the Brothel Louis Bosa
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Sunday Afternoon, c.1945 Louis Bosa
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The Good Festival of Easter, c.1945 Louis Bosa
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Drawing Class, 1961 Louis Bosa