Biography
John Larsen is a multidisciplinary artist that explores themes of absurdity, humor, alienation, and how they shape identity. He regularly shifts between diverse materials and invented personas to craft stories about triviality or detachment. Often straddling between bemusement and calamity, his subject matter hastily dissects the unattainable through a subtle comic lens.
Larsen’s work has been shown in guerrilla style interventions as well as nationally and internationally including the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the New Museum NY, and FACT UK. He currently collaborates on public artwork and immersive installation with his spouse Vicki Lynn Wilson in Washington, D.C.
Education
1995
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR
Public Work
2018
“Bloom Bloom” Main Street, Oregon City, OR
2015
“Twinkle” Collaborative mural, Creative engagement grant, Portland OR
“Double Dutch” Street intersection Mural, Portland, OR
“The Foster Window Project” Portland, OR
2013
“Ripple Drip” Commissioned by the Oregon Zoo, Portland, OR
2011
“Ordinary Lives” City of St. Helens Gallery Corridor, St. Helens, OR
2010
“Succulent Shower” Civic Mall Bell Tower, Scottsdale, AZ
2009
“Under Construction” Portland Building Installation Space, RACC, Portland, OR
Exhibitions
2016
“Open Weave” Indivisible, Portland, OR
“Stakes” Clackamas CC 50th Anniversary, Clackamas, OR
2015
“On Notice” SPARE, Marylhurst University, West Lynn, OR
2013
”Cumulus” with Vicki Lynn Wilson, Audio performance, Northview Gallery, Portland, OR
2012
“Tiger Woods” with Scott Mazariegos, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
2011
“Weird Sisters” with Ricki Klages and Kathi Rick, Northbank Gallery, Vancouver, WA
“Cascade Aids Project Benefit Art Auction” Site specific installation, Portland, OR
2010
“Open Engagement, Plein Air Smackdown” Developed by Mark Smith. PSU, Portland, OR
“5th Annual Mini Golf Art Invitational” with Scott Mazeriegos, Holocene, Portland, OR
2009
“6th International One Minute Film Festival” Aarau, Switzerland
“4th Annual Mini Golf Art Invitational” with Scott Mazariegos, Holocene, Portland, OR
”Lateral Movement” Experimental film festival, Adelaide, Australia
“Goodbye My Coney Island Baby” Film and site specific installation, Chemeketa CC, Salem, OR
2008
“RadioVillageNomade” Laboratoire Village Nomade, La Corbiere, Switzerland
”Lee Walton’s Remote Instructions” Performance video screening, New Museum, NY, NY
“Remixing Pippilotti” Part of an exhibition of work by Pippilotti Rist, FACT, UK
“Official Unofficial Goodwill Residency” PICA TBA Festival and Laurel Kurtz, Portland, OR
“Transparent Eruption” ISE Cultural Foundation, NY, NY
“Silent/Sound” Squeaky Wheel Film Center, Buffalo, NY
”5th International One Minute Film Festival” Aarau, Switzerland
“2nd International Dream Video Dreams Festival” Celje, Slovenia
2007
“Kitchen Sink: Step Into My Office” with Walter Lee, and Scott Mazaregos
2006
“Public Display of Affection” Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR
Panels
2015 RACC Selection Panelist, Stevens Creek Crossing, Portland OR
2010 RACC Selection Panelist, Portland Building Installation space, Portland OR
Grants
2014 Creative Engagement Grant, Foster Window Project, SE Uplift
2013 Professional Development Grant, Wilson and Larsen Studio, RACC
Awards
2016 Presidential Daily Point of Light Award, Foster Powell Community Garden, Portland OR