Larry Dunbar

Larry Dunbar’s has been developing his creative practice at the ECF South L.A. Art Center studio since 2000. He is skilled at using many artistic techniques, especially painting, printmaking, and ceramics, and is an excellent draftsman when working from a reference. Larry astounds the staff at the South LA art center with his focus and ability to do the work to master whatever technique he is taught. He has great talent in painting and drawing, and has participated in many shows at the DAC gallery, LAMAG, EXLA and other venues. He has also been really hitting his stride in ceramics, and has mastered the technical challenges of the medium to work independently and create huge sculptural vessels. He has also recently been learning embroidery, and through his focused effort has been improving daily and making many new pieces. Larry’s recent work has been focused on re interpreting images from his sketchbooks in multiples as paintings and repeat patterns on ceramic objects. Larry keeps a sketchbook actively, and is always drawing the art work and objects around him. His work often borders on pop art in its use of repetition to elevate the ordinary. However, at its core Larry’s work is not a critique of pop culture, but an appreciation of the world around him. He uses repetition and scale to highlight the importance and beauty of the ordinary objects, animals, and people he sees. “A nice beautiful cake”, “A beautiful owls”, “Nice beautiful purses”, “This is fantastic.” These are common ways Larry will describe his work or subject matter. His confidence, positive attitude, and work ethic are an inspiration to the other students and staff. He is a beautiful soul who makes beautiful work about the beautiful world he sees around him.

“I make the ceramics. I put some project there. I make hands and eyes. I do watercolors. I draw in pencil. I have fun at the Art Center. I have just a family, 2 brothers, Andre and Greg. He do security, he do orientation. I do some clay and paint and pictures. Someday I want to work at the swap meet.”

-Larry Dunbar