Emil Kosa Jr. Art
French, 1903-1968
From Papillon - Martin Wolpert
Emil Kosa Jr. was born in Paris, France on November 28, 1903. His father was a Czech artist. He moved to the United States with his family at the age of four.
Kosa studied at the Prague Academy as a teenager and then at the California Art Institute in Los Angeles in 1927. He returned to Paris later in 1927, and studied under Pierre Laurens at l'École des Beaux-Arts. In 1928, he returned to Los Angeles and studied and later taught at Chouinard and the Otis Art Institutes.
Kosa spent the last 35 years of his life working for 20th Century Fox studios as a special effects artist. In 1963 he won an Oscar for his work on Cleopatra. During this time Kosa, along with maintaining a studio-home in LA, decorated churches, theaters, and private homes and continued teaching in Laguna Beach, California.
Kosa exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1940, the Biltmore Salon in Los Angeles in 1941. He also showed his works in many other locals nationally including the Carnegie Institute, the Denver Museum, and the Frye Museum. He won dozens of awards in California and nationally from 1928-1961. He is represented in many museums across the United States including the LACMA, the Santa Barbara Museum, the Boston Museum of Fine Art, and the San Diego Museum.
Kosa worked in both watercolor and oil. He painted many portraits including the official portrait of Governor Earl Warren. He also painted landscapes, seascapes, figures, and floral works.
The most interesting aspect of Kosa's body of work is that he had several different styles. He is well known and appreciated in the circle of California Plein-Air painters and watercolorists, but he was also painted many symbolist and modernist paintings. In these more expressive works can be seen the influence of his studies in Prague and Paris. Many of his paintings are moody, and somber; a stark contrast to his scenes of California landscapes. He produced a number of abstract works as well, showing the influence of Kupka who he had studied .
Kosa JR. died in Los Angeles on the 4th of November 1968.(Biography provided by Blue Heron Gallery)
to
4
4
4
3
1
1
3
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
4
4
4
2
2
1
1
1
1
4
4
4
6,886
3,210
2,514
1,217
4
4
3
2
2
Artist: Emil Kosa Jr.
Seated Nude Ink and Wash Drawing by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Pastel, Watercolor
Nude Pastel by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Watercolor, Pastel
Landscape Water Colour by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Watercolor
Church Paris Oil Painting by Emil Kosa Jr.
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Academy of Design, American Watercolor Society, California Water Color Society, Philadelphia Water Color Club, New York Water Color Club. Emil Kosa, Jr. received art instruction and music lessons at a very early age. When he was in his late teens, he had to decide between being a professional musician or artist. He chose art, but his family and instructors believed he could have been a famous musician had he chosen that occupation.
In the 1920s, he moved to California, but returned to France several times to continue his art education. He received traditional painting instruction from Pierre Laurens and studied non-objective painting with Frank Kupka. After settling in California in 1928, he worked as a mural artist and operated a business with his father that produced decorative art for churches and auditoriums. When that line of work was slow, he took on portrait commissions and sold fine art paintings through local galleries.
In the early 1930s, Kosa became friends with Millard Sheets and with Sheet’s encouragement, began aggressively pursuing a national reputation as a California watercolor artist...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil
Related Items
"Arquebusiers En Manoeuvre", After Marchetti
Located in Soquel, CA
Figurative landscape of four infantrymen in formation with their long arquebus guns by Adolphe Ancker (Dutch, 19th Century), after Marchetti. Signed and dated "Adolph Ancker 1888" lo...
Category
1880s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor, Pencil
Early 20th Century Peking Bell Tower
By William Clothier Watts
Located in Soquel, CA
Vibrant scene of visitors arriving by camels at the Peking Bell Tower by William Clothier Watts (American 1967-1961). This piece is unsigned, bu...
Category
1920s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
H 27.13 in W 23 in D 0.75 in
"Sky Symphony" Oil Painting
By Leigh Ann Van Fossan
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Sky Symphony" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts vivid pinks and purples coloring a sky as the sun sets on the day.
Category
2010s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Panel
"Fire in the Sky" Oil Painting
By Leigh Ann Van Fossan
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Fire in the Sky" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a group of sailboats docked as a sunset colors the sky and water a vibrant orange hue.
Category
2010s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Panel
Monterey Wharf - Figurative Landscape
By Stephen John Skerce
Located in Soquel, CA
Detailed figurative watercolor landscape the Monterey Wharf with figures and boats by Stephen John Skerce (American, 1926-2010). Presented in a wooden frame. Signed "Skerce" lower le...
Category
1980s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
Cowboy in the Canyon, Small Contemporary Multicolor Abstract Figural Landscape
By Tiffanie Mang
Located in Soquel, CA
Small-scale yet bold multi-colored abstracted figurative landscape of a horse rider in a canyon (a study after Edgar Payne’s works) by Tiffanie Mang (Ameri...
Category
2010s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Gouache, Cardboard
H 9.5 in W 9.5 in D 0.13 in
"Nocturne" Oil Painting
By Leigh Ann Van Fossan
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Nocturne" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts sailboats floating in the darkness as their lights and the moon casts glimmering reflections on t...
Category
2010s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
1920's Peaceful Marsh Wetlands Watercolor Landscape with Birds
Located in Soquel, CA
Serene 1920's watercolor landscape of calm water snaking through a lush marshy wetland, dotted with small birds, wildflowers and swaying grass, by an unknown artist (American, 20th C...
Category
1920s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
1940s Nude Figure Study II
Located in Soquel, CA
Nude figure study of a female model by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). Circa 1940. Unsigned. Unframed. Image size: 25"H x 19"W.
Category
1940s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Charcoal
"Sweet Dreams" Oil Painting
By Leigh Ann Van Fossan
Located in Denver, CO
Leigh Ann Van Fossan's "Sweet Dreams" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts sailboats floating in the darkness as the glow of the blue sky casts reflections on the inky ...
Category
2010s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"Mountain Climbers" - Mountain Landscape in Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
"Mountain Climbers" - Mountain Landscape in Watercolor on Paper
Serene mountain landscape by Margie Westcott (American, 1931-2018). The viewer stands...
Category
Late 20th Century American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Watercolor
H 19.25 in W 22.25 in D 0.75 in
Nude Reading
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Nude Reading" c.1970, is a watercolor on paper by noted California artist William Jack Laycox, 1921-1984. It is signed at he lower right corner by the artist. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Watercolor
Previously Available Items
Seated Nude Ink and Wash Drawing by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Pastel, Watercolor
Nude Pastel by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Watercolor, Pastel
Landscape Water Colour by Emil Kosa Jr
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Ac...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil, Watercolor
Church Paris Oil Painting by Emil Kosa Jr.
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Pasadena, CA
Emil Kosa, Jr., N.A. (1903-1968) Born: Paris, France; Studied: Academy of Fine Arts (Prague), Ecole des Beaux Arts (Paris), Chouinard Art Institute (Los Angeles); Member: National Academy of Design, American Watercolor Society, California Water Color Society, Philadelphia Water Color Club, New York Water Color Club. Emil Kosa, Jr. received art instruction and music lessons at a very early age. When he was in his late teens, he had to decide between being a professional musician or artist. He chose art, but his family and instructors believed he could have been a famous musician had he chosen that occupation.
In the 1920s, he moved to California, but returned to France several times to continue his art education. He received traditional painting instruction from Pierre Laurens and studied non-objective painting with Frank Kupka. After settling in California in 1928, he worked as a mural artist and operated a business with his father that produced decorative art for churches and auditoriums. When that line of work was slow, he took on portrait commissions and sold fine art paintings through local galleries.
In the early 1930s, Kosa became friends with Millard Sheets and with Sheet’s encouragement, began aggressively pursuing a national reputation as a California watercolor artist...
Category
1930s American Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Oil
Nude Sleeping by Emil Kosa, Jr., 1930s
By Emil Kosa Jr.
Located in Soquel, CA
Substantial and period nude study of a reclining woman by Emil Kosa Jr. (American/French, 1903-1968). Image 9"H x 12"L. Signed upper right, circa 1930. Em...
Category
1920s Impressionist Emil Kosa Jr. Art
Materials
Paper, Charcoal, Oil Pastel
Emil Kosa Jr. art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Emil Kosa Jr. art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Emil Kosa Jr. in oil paint, paint, watercolor and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Impressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Emil Kosa Jr. art, so small editions measuring 18 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Brian Rounds, William Malherbe, and Samuel Hyde Harris. Emil Kosa Jr. art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,000 and tops out at $7,500, while the average work can sell for $4,500.