Urban Larsson, born on November 23rd, 1966 in Stockholm, has lived and worked in Amsterdam for the last 22 years.  As well as portraits and figures, Urban paints still lives 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 (‘86/’87 and fall ’87) and Architecture at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (‘88/’89).  Lars-son then moved to Florence, Italy, to study at Studio Cecil & Graves (Jan.-June ’88 and Sept. ‘89-June ’91), the only atelier in Europe where “traditional realism” was taught.  He spent nearly three years there, learning drawing and painting and being introduced to the visual language and techniques of painters from earlier centuries.  After his studies in Florence, he moved to Amsterdam to settle as a painter. 

His portrait commissions are prestigious; for example, in 2013 he painted the of-ficial portrait of H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden for the Swedish National Gallery. Urban has exhibited throughout Europe and in the United States.

Since 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.