American, b. 1958
Louis was born in Omaha, NE in 1958. At the age of nine he began painting in oil, and at 14, he began studying painting, drawing, and art theory under Stanley Stephanowitz, and then under Frank Novak at the Norwich Art School and Slater Museum in Norwich, CT. As a young man, he also studied under master artists Dean Keller, Ken Davies, and Rudolph Zallinger at the Paier College of Art in Hamden, CT.
After art school, Guarnaccia continued painting both landscapes and portraits, in addition to working as an illustrator, art director, and creative director at various advertising agencies in New England. He eventually established his own privately-owned advertising agency and in 1996, Louis moved to Nantucket Island, MA. In 2000, he began painting full time, focusing on both portrait commissions and marine landscapes from around the island.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2001 Cavalier Gallery, Nantucket, MA
2000 Sailor's Valentine Gallery, Nantucket, MA
1992 John F. Kennedy Airport, Japan Airlines VIP Lounge, New York, NY
1991 South Wharf Gallery, Nantucket, MA
1990 Place Gallery, Naugatuck, CT
1990 Webb Gallery, Hamden, CT
1989 Arts Place Gallery, Naugatuck, CT
Selected Group Exhibitions
2020 Summer Highlights Part I, Cavalier Galleries
2019 Annual Small Works Online Exhibition, Cavalier Galleries
2018 Kaleidoscope, Helmholz Fine Art, Manchester, VT
2017 Vermont Fall, Helmholz Fine Art, Manchester, VT
2016 September Group Exhibition, Cavalier Galleries, Nantucket, MA
2016 Important Maritime Paintings, Nantucket, MA
2016 Martime Paintings Exhibition, Greenwich, CT
2015 Maritime Masters
2011 Important Marine and Maritime Paintings Exhibition and Sale, Greenwich, CT
Awards
2004 Henry O’Conner SCNY Award for outstanding work from the Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2001 4th Place, Landscape Competition, Artist’s Magazine, for painting Low Tide
1999 Finalist, Portrait Competition, Artist’s Magazine, for painting Cal Sims
Memberships
Artist Association of Nantucket, MA
American Society of Marine Artists
Portrait Society of America
Salmagundi Club, NYC
