Luiz Carlos Coelho, aka C. Lamont, was born in Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 16th, 1935. He received early training in his art from his father who was also a painter. Later he took formal instruction at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes of the University of Brazil. Two of his teachers, themselves well- known artists, were Zaluar and Goeldi. For a time he was a teacher of art at the Sousa Leao Institute in Rio de Janeiro. In 1954, Luiz had his first show at the Municipal Library of Campinas. In 1957 – 1958 he participated in the annual exhibition at the Salon Nacional in Rio de Janeiro. His next exhibition was in Guayaquil in Ecuador. At this time his painting, Carro de Bois (Cart of Bulls), was acquired by the Colonial Museum. Impressed by Mr. Coelho’s work, the French Ambassador to Ecuador enthusiastically recommended him for a fellowship to study fine arts in Paris, France. In 1964 he came to the USA and in 1971 he had his first exhibition at Arnot Gallery. In the ensuing years he had several one man shows, among them one at the Heller Gallery in Rio de Janeiro, and another at the Andrea Gallery in Sao Paulo. He had two shows held simultaneously at the Brazilian Studies Center and the Colonial Museum in Quito, Ecuador. Although coming from a country of light, he freely uses the more muted colors of his palette. He paints strongly, using his vast travels to cultivate his subjects, and does not hesitate to merely suggest on some occasions and to underscore the others. There is rhythm and life and a bitter irony in what he painted.

Luiz Carlos Coelho will be remembered as a significant talent. He enjoyed doing oversized abstract sculptures in his studio for himself. As an oil painter, Luiz felt strongly about representing various styles of painting with different ‘Pen’ names. He always felt that within each artist lived many artists, and expressed his art work in that manner, thusly assigning nom de plume to each. The most notable of these are the names : C. Pierre Latour and C. Lamont (whose name he trademarked and registered). The paintings by ‘Latour’ captured his life time travels, including Brazil, Portugal, Paris, Amsterdam as well as many other ‘experiences’ of his travels over his years, and became Flower Markets and City Scenes of no particular location, except that location fabricated in his own mind. The floral ‘Roses’ trademarked by ‘Lamont’ capture the light and expose the beauty of the ‘flower within the flower’. Both, best selling paintings,for years and years.

Luiz Carlos Coelho died on February 2nd, 2006. More than an artist, Peter and Vicki Arnot considered him a dear family friend. He is and will always be missed.