Born and raised in the Chicago area Fred Moss was drawing and sketching the world around him from an early age. He grew up visiting the Chicago Art Institute, often admiring the outstanding impressionistic and classical painting collection. He also saw the traveling shows, and was influenced by the master painters and Impressionist shows.
He attended the College for Creative Studies after receiving a partial school grant and earned a bachelor’s degree. After graduation he studied with renowned painter Romel De La Torre, who helped him convey on canvas his thoughts and feelings. He also studied at the Florence Academy of Art in his grandparents’ native country, Italy. There he found a subject matter that inspired him—the scenic towns and countrysides of Italy. Fred painted Florence, Lake Como, Venetian canals, and hiked the mountains of the Cinque Terre looking for scenic views to capture on canvas.
In 2007 he was accepted into the American Impressionist Society's Annual National Juried Exhibition for his painting of "Springtime Flowers" which was held at Hilligoss Galleries in Chicago. In 2008 he was accepted into the American Impressionist Society’s Annual Juried Exhibition for his painting of “Rose Garden” which was held at Coda Gallery in California. In 2008 he had a solo show at the North Charleston City Gallery. In 2011 he had a painting in ArtPrize, which is a global art competition held in Grand Rapids Michigan. In 2014 he was commissioned to paint a public art “horse of honor”. Each horse was dedicated to a Chicago police officer who was killed or injured in the line of duty. The exhibit featured life size statues of Chicago mounted patrol units that were each artistically designed by local Chicago artists. The exhibit benefited the Chicago memorial foundation. In 2017 he was commissioned to paint a public art “K9” statue. Each K9 statue was of K9 officers. Fred created a Chicago Blackhawks themed K9 that was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks team. In 2014 he had a solo exhibition at the Harold Washington Chicago Library of “Impressions of Chicago Gardens”. He has exhibited in several galleries and shows which include the Hinsdale Center for the Arts, Beverly Art Center, Karen Solem’s Gallery, 7013 Studio, Hinsdale gallery, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, Elmhurst Artist Guild, Mainstreet Art Center, and Silhouettes Fifth Annual Exhibit. During 2004 and 2005 he participated at Art in the Barn, a juried art show. He has also painted Chicago and Italy cityscapes for limited edition prints which were signed, numbered, then distributed and sold in the Chicagoland area. Chicago city hall has one of his prints hanging there.
His painting "Cliffside View of Vernazza" was a finalist in the May Art Muse Contest. And his painting "Gliding Gondola" was a finalist in the January Art Muse Contest.
Over the years, he has done painting demonstrations for Friendship Village, taught oil painting at Art Cube Studios, and taught a workshop at the Elmhurst Art Guild about the use of computers by artists. Fred is now working on paintings of National Parks.
