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Featured Artist
Upper Class Collectibles
Ask William (Bill) Lopa what his dream job in life would be and he'd tell you he's living it. From a hyperactive toddler to the heralded, exclusive fine art and sports artist of Upper Class Collectibles, Bill Lopa has always had art in his blood and his heart.
At age 5, Lopa segued from mastering his coloring books to bi-weekly art classes at the Nutley Art Academy, where he credits his instructors with educating him about structure, form, and depth perception. Montclair Art Academy followed and Lopa earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from William Patterson College in Wayne, New Jersey.
A turning point for Lopa was a professor in a college art class who advised his students to never lose their artistic desire; however, in reality, most of them would not make it as professional artists. It was then that Bill told himself he would never be one of those people and has never looked back since.
From age 15 on, art has funded Lopa's life. Friends, family and neighbors commissioned work from him and his distinct impressionist style quickly caught on in what can be called a grassroots fashion. These same fans would later take Lopa's works of art and have them placed in galleries, consigned to art dealers and even sold to individuals/consumers up and down the East Coast.
An avid spots fan and die-hard Yankees fan, Lopa chose to concentrate his art in what he loved in a genre he found most challenging and enjoyable: kinetic impressionism. Working in acrylics, Lopa uses a "splatter" technique where the colors are applied with a pallet knife. The use of bold colors and splatter technique captures the image and spirit of an athlete in motion.
Lopa's artwork has been featured in art galleries across the country. Galleries such as: the Markman Galleries in Las Vegas, Gallery Four at the Garden State Art Plaza, Field of Dreams throughout the country, ArtExpo in New York, Just Ducky in Chicago and in several Hall Of Fame memorabilia franchise stores. Even more special to Bill is that his paintings are collected and hang in the homes of such greats as: Tiki Barber, Roger Clemens, Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire, Paul O'Neill, Mark Prior, George Steinbrenner, Kerry Wood, Yogi Berra, Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson, Barbara Sinatra, Diana Munson, Eleanor Gehrig, Julia Ruth and Danny Mantle.
A mainstay at the International ArtExpo, the largest art show regularly held at New York City's Jacob Javits Center, for the last six years. Bill has shown and sold his works at Major League Baseballs All-Star Fan Fest, at the All-Star Games, and the "NFL Experience" events at both the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl in Hawaii numerous times. He has been the official artist of Sports nationals, the biggest sports memorabilia and sports art show in the country for three years; where his artwork appears on every brochure and every poster for this fan-favorite event. Furthermore, he is the official artist of the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational. Bill has been seen painting ringside for both Fox and Showtime heavyweight title fights in Las Vegas. In 2004, Major League Baseball chose Bill to paint the World Series commemorative home plates for the ceremonial first pitch seen on TV and featured on the jumbotron in Fenway Park. Bill's artwork has also been printed on shirts which sold out at Yankee Stadium stores during the 2004 Playoffs.
There is an undeniable buzz around Bill Lopa. His formidable talent has already made a name for himself and UCC in the sports art and sport memorabilia arena. Bill's kinetic energy to match his impressionist style; this young artist is soon to be a household name.
click here for bills past work
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