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Larry Willis
THIS WAS NOW
Larry Willis is an artist living in Chandler, Arizona who’s work spans nearly three decades. He was part of the seminal artist’s organization, Phoenix Artists Coalition, in the early 1980s. He has had work exhibited at dozens of galleries and art centers from Maine to California, Including being twice selected to show at the Southwestern Invitational Exhibition and also selected two times for The Arizona Biennial at the Tucson Museum of Art.He has been honored with two one-man shows at the Arizona State Capitol Building, West Wing Gallery, in Phoenix, a one-man show in the Phoenix Theater Lobby at the Phoenix Art Museum, a one man show at the Cafe Express Gallery in Flagstaff, Arizona, a one-man show at Schefflin Hall in Tombstone and most recently in 2009 at TRYST Art Gallery in Chandler, Arizona.
STATEMENT:
My paintings are loosely rooted in the Pop Art of the 1960’s. Sometimes drawing upon extant images from pop culture and High fashion, along with incorporation of classic themes and references from art history. Sometimes my paintings will incorporate subjects from the American West. Having been born and raised in Arizona at a time when westerns were prevalent on TV and in film, I have always been drawn to western imagery and the contrast between the reality and the myth of the west presented in popular culture. Combining, altering and building on these influences I present a personal amalgam that hopefully never looses sight of art as a thing of beauty.
If there is an underlying theme to my work it is the transient nature of fame in our celebrity obsessed world. Even if not literally, Andy Warhol’s Statement about 15 minutes of fame is abundant in our day with things like reality TV. With shows like American Idol it seems that half the population wants that 15 minutes. I often use people of celebrity as subjects, Some contemporary and some almost forgotten, their 15 minutes having passed.
RANDOM THOUGHTS:
Though I have grown old I still see the world with the Eyes of a young man. I just better comprehend what I see.
Young Bohemians become old eccentrics if they are not careful.
It could be argued that Toulouse Lautrec was a Pop artist in that he depicted the well-known Paris “Celebrities” of his day, like Peter Blake and Andy Warhol.
It has been said that Van Gogh suffered for his art. Perhaps his suffering was actually eased by it. I believe the arts ease ours.
Galleries
Artwork
Born 1948 in Phoenix, Arizona: Lives in Chandler, Arizona
Primary medium – Acrylic on canvas
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“Our best artist in residence at True West.” – Bob Boze Bell
“Work that shows consistent promise” – Deborah Laake, New Times
PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS:
2009
Tryst Gallery Chandler, Arizona
Pita Jungle, Mesa & Gilbert, Arizona locations
Payson Art League, Guest Artist, Payson, Arizona
2001
Schieffelin Hall, Tombstone, Arizona (With Thom Ross)
1992
Arizona State Capitol, West Wing Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
1990
Café Express Gallery, Flagstaff, Arizona
1988
Arizona State Capitol, West Wing Gallery, Phoenix Arizona
1987
Phoenix Theater Lobby Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2010
KiVi Moments in Time Gallery, Scottsdale Arizona
Shemer Art Center & Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
2009
Gregos Art Collaboration, Paris, France
Bentley Projects, Phoenix, Arizona AIGA Show & Auction
2008
Scottsdale Design Center, AIGA Show & Auction Scottsdale, Arizona
Bragg’s Pie Factory Art Space, Phoenix, Arizona
2007
The Modern West, @ Central Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona (3 Paintings)
2002
Jordan Road Gallery, Sedona, Arizona
1999
Fine Art Exhibit, State Fair, Phoenix, Arizona
1997
Paris Gibson Museum of Art, Great Falls, Montana
Sky Harbor Airport Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Custer County Art Center, Miles City, Montana
Hockaday Art Center Kalispell, Montana
University Center Gallery, University of Montana
1996
Tempe Art Center, Tempe, Arizona
Santa Maria Art Museum, Santa Maria, California
1995
Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, Maine
Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler Arizona
Winchester Center Gallery, Las Vegas, Nevada
Cave Creek Museum, Cave Creek, Arizona
1994
Mesa Southwest Museum, Mesa, Arizona
Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, Arizona
Mohave Community College, Kingman, Arizona
1992
Glendale Municipal Gallery, Glendale, Arizona
1993
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona (Arizona Biennial)
1991
25th Anniversary Southwest Invitational, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, Arizona
1990
Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Casa Grande Art Museum, Casa Grande, Arizona
1989
Fiesaval Art Ehibit: A Fiesta Bowl Art Event, Phoenix, Arizona.
Mars Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
1988
A.P. Tell Gallery, Grand Canyon College, Phoenix, Arizona
Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia
Mars Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Cochise College, Doglas, Arizona
1987
Tempe Art Center, Tempe, Arizona
1988
Charlston Heights Art Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
11 East Ashland Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Mars Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
1986
20Th Southwestern Invitational, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, Arizona
University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Leslie Levy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona
Prescott Art Center, Prescott, Arizona
Alwun House, Phoenix, Arizona
Oblique Gallery, Tempe, Arizona
Galeria Mesa, Mesa, Arizona
Dinnerware Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
Mars Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Hockaday Center for the Arts, Kalispell, Montana
1985
Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
Galeria Mesa, Mesa, Arizona
Mars Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
Fine Art Center en Taos, Taos, New Mexico
1984
Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, Arizona, (Arizona Biennial)
Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, Arizona
Verde Valley Art Gallery, Jerome, Arizona
Fine Art Center en Taos, Taos, New Mexico
Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, Arizona (Purchase Salt River Project)
1983
Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado
Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, Arizona
Verde Valley Art Gallery, Jerome, Arizona
Valley National Bank Center, Phoenix, Arizona
1982
Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, Arizona (1st place painting)
Portland Fine Arts Gallery, Portland, Main
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