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Artist paints houses into homesFree Access


Josh Moulton

Just like his honorary University Liggett School “Lifer” title, Josh Moulton will always consider himself a Grosse Pointe lifer. Though it’s been several years since he lived in Michigan, he still has strong roots throughout the community.

Moulton, who grew up on Bedford, near Mack, just outside of Grosse Pointe, attended Liggett from kindergarten through 12th grade. Art became a part of his life at a young age as he followed in his father’s footsteps. Conrad Moulton was a celebrated illustrator for nearly four decades during the print advertising boom, then focused on portraiture and painting.

Moulton recalled his child-sized easel set up next to his father’s work station.

“He taught me everything I know from a very early age,” he said.

After graduating from Liggett, Moulton attended Lake Forest College on an art scholarship. He painted full time 10 years and was represented by galleries around the country, including in New Mexico, New York and Chicago. In 2011, he opened the Josh Moulton Fine Art Gallery in Chicago, where he currently lives.

“That’s where I produce everything now,” he said, noting he still returns home to visit friends and family, including his mom, Grosse Pointe Woods resident Amy Moulton. “I’ll be celebrating the (gallery’s) 10-year anniversary in June. It’s a great milestone, especially in the industry I’m in and especially during a pandemic.”

Part of the reason for Moulton’s success is his house portrait work. He launched the idea 15 years ago in Chicago; it wasn’t long before his services were requested in his hometown. Through social media, he’s connected with Realtors in the area looking for a unique closing gift for their clients.

“They want to get their clients something nice,” he said. “I pitched the idea to some Realtors and they loved it. I’ve done a lot of Grosse Pointe houses. Not just for realtors, but for people who want to remember their home if they’ve moved out of Grosse Pointe, or want to remember their childhood home.

“People in Grosse Pointe love their homes, their cars, their boats,” he added. “And Grosse Pointe is known for its houses. To capture them as paintings is something they’ll cherish forever. … They can pass these down to their children and grandchildren; they’ll stay in the family forever.”

Moulton’s talent for emoting through acrylics carries through in other areas, as his inventory includes paintings of Mackinac Island, downtown Detroit and sailboats.

He has thousands of photos from which he draws inspiration — and from which potential clients may choose for him to paint — at flickr.com/photos/50967311@N05/albums/72157703435476275. He also paints from client-provided photographs.

Moulton makes it to Grosse Pointe every few months, usually with a carload of paintings for clients. The pandemic may have limited his visits, but he’s kept busy with orders throughout.

Moulton’s portrait of Tiger Stadium.

“The arts are important, in general,” he said. “I bring beauty to the world, especially during a time when everyone is so depressed and have been stuck in their homes for the past year, looking at the same walls and thinking maybe they’d like to see something more interesting and beautiful.”

He certainly has been making a name for himself in the art world. In 2019, Moulton was inducted into Liggett’s Alumni Arts Hall of Fame. Just the fifth honoree to be included — among them film and theater actress Julie Harris, class of 1944; and actress and comedian Gilda Radner, class of 1964 — Moulton was the first male and first painter inducted.

Photos courtesy of Josh Moulton
Moulton’s painting of the Detroit Athletic Club.

Moulton can be reached at his website — joshmoultonfineart.com — via email at moultjosh@gmail.com, by calling (773) 592-3434 or visiting his social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.