Larry Willis

About

Born at Phoenix, Arizona USA 1948. Lives at Chandler, Arizona. Larry Willis has exhibited his work since the 1980s from California to Maine. Twice selected for the Arizona Bienial at the Tucson Museum of Art. Primarily painting on canvas he sometimes introduces other items to the work such as gold leaf, foam core, wood, etc. also dabbling in photography, watercolor and music. Thus he was recently referred to in the Arizona Republic news paper as a multidimensional artist.In my work I use elements of abstraction and various degrees of realism to achieve a desired affect that varies from piece to piece, drawing on the traditions in art in subject and technique, also bringing in elements of pop culture focusing on the transient nature and relativity of fame, the personas we create for our selves and the illusions we chouse to believe. Some works are more lyrical and others more narrative. I love art and the varying creative processes. I have always created because I enjoy it. While art can make one think I believe the main motivation should be the joy of creating. 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. … Read More

Location: Chandler,, AZ, United States
Website: http://www.phoenixartspace.com/larrywillis

Work

PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS:
2012 @ Central Gallery,Phoenix, Arizona
2011 Tryst Art Gallery, Chandler, Arizona
2009 Tryst Gallery, Chandler, Arizona Payson Art League, Guest Artist, Pason Arizona
2001 Schieffelin Hall, Tombstone, Arizona (With Thom Ross)
1992 Arizona State Capitol, West Wing Gallery, Phoenix Arizona
1990 Cafe Express Gallery, Flagstaff, Arizona
1988 Arizona State Capitol, West Wing Gallery, Phoenix Arizona
1987 Phoenix Theater Lobby Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2012 Herberger Theater Gallery, Chaos Theaory 13, Legend City, Phoenix, Arizona
2011 Mesa Contmporary Art, Mesa, Arizona, Vision Gallery, Chandler, Arizona, IceHouse, Phoenix, Arizona, Willo North Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona, Arizona, Warehouse 5001 Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona
2010 Shemer Art Center & Museum, Phoenix Arizona Arizona Fine Art Exhibit, Juror & Guest Artist, Phoenix, Arizona 2009 Bentley Projects, Phoenix, Arizona 2008 Scottsdale Design Center, Scottsdale, Arizona Braggs Pie Factory Art Space, Phoenix, AZ2007 Modern West, @ Central Gallery, Phoenix, AZ 2002 Jordan Road Gallery, Sedona, AZ 1999 Fine Art Exhibit, State Fair, Phoenix, AZ 1997 Paris Gibson Museum of Art, Great Falls MontanaSky Harbor Airport Gallery, Phoenix, AZ Custer County Art Center, Miles City, Montana Hockaday Art Center Kalispell, Montana University Center Gallery, University of Montana 1996 Tempe Art Center, Tempe, AZ Santa Maria Art Museum, Santa Maria, California 1995 Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville Maine Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler AZ Winchester Center Gallery, Las Vegas, Nevada Cave Creek Museum, Cave Creek, AZ 1994 Mesa Southwest Museum, Mesa, AZ Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, AZ Mohave Community College, Kingman, AZ 1993 Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ (Arizona Biennial) 1991 25th Anniversary Southwest Invitational, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ 1990Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ Casa Grande Art Museum, Casa Grande, AZ 1989 Fiesaval Art Ehibit: A Fiesta Bowl Art Event, Phoenix, AZ Mars Gallery, Phoenix, AZ 1988 A.P. Tell Gallery, Grand Canyon College, Phoenix, AZ Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia Mars Gallery, Phoenix, AZ Cochise College, Doglas, AZ 1987 Tempe Art Center, Tempe, AZ Charston Heights Art Center, Las Vegas, Nevada11 East Ashland Gallery, Phoenix, AZMars Gallery, Phoenix, AZ 1986 20Th Southwestern Invitational, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ Leslie Levy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ Prescott Art Center, Prescott, AZ Alwun House, Phoenix, AZ Oblique Gallery, Tempe, AZ Galeria Mesa, Mesa AZ Dinnerwae Gallery, Tucson, AZ Mars Gallery, Phoenix, AZ Hockaday Center for the Arts, Kalispell, Montana 1985 Pueblo Grande Museum, Phoenix, AZ Galeria Mesa, Mesa, AZ Mars Gallery, Phoenix, AZ Fine Art Center en Taos, Taos, New Mexico 1984 Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ, (Arizona Biennial) Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, AZ Verde Valley Art Gallery, Jerome, AZ Fine Art Center en Taos, Taos, New Mexico Pueblo Grade Museum, Phoenix, AZ 1983 Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, AZ Verde Valley Art Gallery, Jerome, AZ Valley National Bank Center, Phoenix, AZ 1982 Glendale Art Council Exhibit, Glendale, AZ (1st place painting) Portland Fine Arts Gallery, Portland Maine, … Read More