Larry Bentley is a self-taught artist based in Harlem, New York with a focus on Hard Edge painting, Color Field, Minimal and Geometric Abstraction Art. The emphasis is on clean lines, varying shapes and color combinations with the use of acrylic paints. “ I want viewers and buyers to have an immediate, absolute visual response to my art, engaging in the colors, shapes, forms and all its medium”. Drawing from his past profession in the fashion and modeling industry, Larry Bentley is greatly influenced by the many cultures and places traveled to, architecture, interior design and the Mid Century Modern era.
After his debut as an artist in 2020, Larry Bentley has participated in five group shows and three solo shows in New York and is represented in multiple private and corporate collections.
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What inspired you to become an artist, and what motivated you to pursue this career path?
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Do you have a favorite artist and why?
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I have a few favorite artists for differing reasons, but two of my top favorites are Ellsworth Kelly, for his minimalist approach and Mark Rothko for his sublime, ethereal abstraction.
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How would you describe your creative process, and what techniques or mediums do you enjoy using the most?
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What themes or messages do you hope to convey through your art, and what kind of emotions do you want your audience to experience when they view your work?
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I want the audience of my work to have a visceral reaction to my use of colors, shapes and precision.
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Can you share a specific project or piece that you are particularly proud of, and what makes it meaningful to you?
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Over the years some of my most treasured and successful pieces are when I worked on a bespoke piece for a particular client or project. Sometimes designers have inspired me to grow in new directions and create amazing art pieces that I may not have done on my own.
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How do you stay inspired and motivated, and what advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
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I’m motivated and inspired everyday. I try to be more conscious of shapes, patterns and colors that I encounter on a daily basis and I’m always trying to discover artists of the past and my contemporaries of today for inspiration.
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What was the first project you worked on?
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The first “project” or commission I worked on was painting and reimagining an African mask for a noted poet and collector.
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What do you like to do in your free time/ outside of work?
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Outside of work I love to travel and see new places.
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How would you define your work in three words?
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My work is defined by color, shapes and lines.
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As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
