October 30, 2024
Paige Haehlke
Showcasing Chicago: Josh Moulton ’00 exhibits art during 2024 Homecoming
As Josh Moulton ’00 stood in the Durand Art Institute surrounded by his paintings of Chicago, he reflected on a dream realized: showcasing his work at the very place where he studied and practiced his art over two decades ago.
Moulton, a full-time artist for the past 22 years, showcased 24 pieces comprising his exhibit From Lake Forest to Lincoln Park/A Business and a Career/Chicago’s Painter during 2024 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend in October. The exhibit highlighted the beauty of Chicago, from its bridges and iconic Lake Michigan views to quintessential streets covered in fall leaves.
“The show at Lake Forest was really important to me,” Moulton said. “I’ve always loved that gallery because I worked there as a student, and I always thought, ‘One day, my work should be in there,’ and it was.”
As an art major at the College, Moulton always knew he wanted to pursue being an artist as his career path. His father, Conrad Moulton, was an illustrator well-known in the advertising industry during the print advertising boom and taught Moulton about producing art from a young age.
After graduation, Moulton worked a day job for financial security while he built a resume of commission work and sales for his portfolio.
“Becoming an artist full-time right out of college is not an easy thing to do,” Moulton said. “I painted at night when I got home from work, approached galleries, and did everything I needed to do to try to be a professional artist. After two years, I had a large enough body of work to quit my job, and I’ve been painting full-time ever since.”
Galleries across the country represented Moulton and showcased his work, but he found it difficult to work under that model since they took a 50 percent commission of any sales, and at times he didn't feel valued.
“I was never quite sure how hard they were working on my behalf to sell my work,” Moulton explained. “I wanted to be my own boss. If I was going to take this risk for my career, I wanted to make sure I was in charge of everything, so I opened my own space in Lincoln Park in 2011.”
While Moulton’s exhibit at the College focused on scenes of Chicago, he also paints rural scenes from New England, the sights of New York City, and commission work that ranges from portraits to abstract pieces. Having a diverse skillset is something Moulton’s father emphasized and taught him to work toward, with the goal of being able to create anything anyone requested of him.
Moulton’s passion for his work is an inherent part of him—something he can’t escape. He sees inspiration everywhere he looks and finds beauty in everyday scenes that many wouldn’t think twice about.
“It’s a little overwhelming sometimes because I have so many images that I want to paint, and I can’t wait to create them,” Moulton said. “I come to the gallery every morning excited to paint and produce. I’ll paint until I die—I’ll never retire.”
is located at 2218 North Clark Street in Chicago.