Josep Roca Sastre began his career in Paris before returning to Barcelona, where he developed a personal style and language. His vision was reflected in characters, interior scenes and urban landscapes.
He was awarded the Sant Jordi prize by the Diputació de Barcelona (1966), the medal of honour at the Salon des Artistes Français in Paris (1968), appointed member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Sant Jordi (1980) and the Premier Quadern of the Fundació Amics de les Arts i de les Lletres de Sabadell (1993).