Jeff Velarde
Jeff is a Colorado native, born in Denver in 1963. He grew up in the Villa Park neighborhood on the westside of Denver, walking distance to the old Mile High Stadium. He is a graduate of Denver West High School and an Alum at the Colorado Institute of Art. Velarde has worked as a commercial artist for over 35 years while pursuing a parallel career as a Fine Artist.
Having grown up in the city, Velarde has always been inspired in his work by the visual heartbeat of an urban setting. Having had the opportunity to travel through work, he has been able to set his paintings in many different major cities. In his paintings he is always trying to capture the uniqueness and magic of each locale and the imagined story of its subjects.
Education
Associates Degree in Commercial Advertising, Colorado Institute of Art 1983
Awards
Best in Show, Second Place – Code Red Show, Depot Art Gallery 2019
Second Place – Colorado Pride Show, Depot Art Gallery 2019
First Place – All Colorado Show, Depot Art Gallery 2019
First Place in Oil Painting Littleton Own an Original Show, 2010
Second Place in Oil Painting Littleton Library Own an Original Show, 2003
Featured artist for Keyline Graphics quarterly calendar poster 2000
Best In Show – Open Show, Denver Cooperative Art Center 1990
Finalist for Colorado selection in the Absolut America ad campaign coordinated by Gannett Publishing 1990
Exhibitions
Recharge! Show sponsored by Kyle Belding and Denver Art Supply 1987
Open show Denver Cooperative Art Center, Denver, CO 1990
Open show New Core Art Space, Denver, CO 1993
Open show New Core Art Space, Denver, CO 1994
Littleton Town Center Art Show, Littleton, CO 1995
DCPA “Saturday Night Alive” silent art auction 2000
“Faces of Woman” show Honorable Mention in 2D category, Las Vegas NM March 2001
Colorado Call for Entries Show, Curtis Arts and Humanities Center, Greenwood Village, CO July 2001
The Mask Project, A Benefit for Metro Denver Hospice, 2005
Spark Gallery, Open Shows, 2012, 2013
Next Gallery, Open Show, 2015
Sinners and Saints Show CHAC, 2016
Gallery Exhibitions
Anthony L. Rhea Gallery – Exhibit and demonstration during Cherry Creek Arts Festival 1998 –2001
ArtExpo California, Los Angeles, CA 1998
Sandra Philips Gallery, 2001
Great Western Art Gallery, 2010-2014
Grand Lake Art Gallery 2014-2017
Depot Art Gallery, Member of the Littleton Fine Arts Guild, 2019
Commissions
J.D. Edwards & Company – 1997
Thomas Kinkade Gallery, Cherry Creek, Denver, CO 1998
Daniels Business College, Denver University, Denver, CO 2000
Personal
Married: Linda M. Velarde, four children, Jennifer, Holly, Christopher, Julia
