Kendra Larson

“My animal sculptures in HUMAN/ANIMAL are a whimsical offshoot of my more traditional painting and drawing practice. They are three dimensional paintings utilizing a drippy, painterly aesthetic that I find interesting and honest. The materials are varied: cardboard, spray foam, hula-hoops, paper, plaster, mirrors, wires, glue, caulking, spray and acrylic paints. The messiness of the material sometimes directs the form. The paint’s viscosity takes a leading role.

The resulting critters are complex in their symbolism, which can be at odds with their actual role within the ecosystem. Humans often make contradictory associations and tie unrealistic characteristics to animals. For instance, bats symbolize death and rebirth and are sometimes known as the “Guardian of the Night.’ They are associated with nocturnal vampire monster and have been connected to the origin of the Corona virus. Conversely, they are a major indicator species that plays an important role in biodiversity.

The cosmos painted on some of these animals references the idea that humans and animals alike are all just star dust. My curiosity of mysticism, paganism, and historical depictions of animals is brought forth in these works.”

 

 Kendra’s practice explores historical ideas of the landscape and subtly supports ideas around environmentalism, as well as contemporary relationships with the natural world.

Larson grew up in Salem, OR. She received her MFA in Painting at University of Wisconsin, Madison and has shown her work in venues in the United States and New Zealand. Larson is a past Signal Fire, Caldera (Sisters, Oregon) and New Pacific Studios (Masterton, New Zealand) artist in resident. She is represented by Augen Gallery in Portland, OR and teaches at PNCA and Portland State University. Kendra lives in Portland, OR. 

To access Kendra’s HUMAN/ANIMAL viewing room, click here.

 

Untitled (Ring 2), 2021 Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and plastic 55” x 36” x 6”

Untitled (Ring 2), 2021
Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and plastic
55” x 36” x 6”

Bear, 2021 Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and feathers 18” x 22” x 15”

Bear, 2021
Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and feathers
18” x 22” x 15”

Untitled (Ring 1), 2021 Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and plastic 41” x 24” x 6”

Untitled (Ring 1), 2021
Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and plastic
41” x 24” x 6”

Crow, 2021 Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and feathers 12” x 18” x 17”

Crow, 2021
Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and feathers
12” x 18” x 17”

Owl, 2021 Mixed media paper, paint, wire, and feathers 28” x 17” x 17”

Owl, 2021
Mixed media paper, paint, wire and feathers
28” x 17” x 17”

Crow, 2007, Paper wire and acrylic, 12” x 24” x 12”, NFS

Crow, 2007
Paper wire and acrylic
12” x 24” x 12”

Moth, 2022 Mixed media 8" x 12"

Moth, 2022
Mixed media
8″ x 12″

Bat 2”, 2022 Mixed media 8" x 12"

Bat 1, 2022
Mixed media
8″ x 12″

Bat 3, 2022 Mixed media 8" x 12"

Bat 2, 2022
Mixed media
8″ x 12″

San Juan Fox 1, 2021, Oil pastel on paper, 8” x 10”, $225
San Juan Fox 1, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10”
$225
San Juan Fox 2, 2021 Oil pastel on paper 8” x 10” $225

San Juan Fox 2, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10”
$225

San Juan Fox 3, 2021 Oil pastel on paper 8” x 10” $225

San Juan Fox 3, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10”
$225

San Juan Fox 4, 2021, Oil pastel on paper, 8” x 10”, $225
San Juan Fox 4, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10”
$225
San Juan Fox 5, 2021, Oil pastel on paper, 8” x 10”, $225
San Juan Fox 5, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10”
$225
Float, 2021 Oil on paper 10” x 8” $200

Float, 2021
Oil on paper
10” x 8”
$200

Water Light Show, 2021 Oil pastel on paper 11 ½” x 8” $200

Water Light Show, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
11 ½” x 8”
$200

The Show, 2021 Oil pastel on paper 10” x 8” $200

The Show, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
10” x 8”
$200

Icescape, 2021, 8” x 10”, oil pastel on paper, $200
Icescape, 2021
Oil pastel on paper
8” x 10″
$200
Zig Zag Oregon, 2021, Oil on paper, 8” x 10”, $200

Zig Zag Oregon, 2021
Oil on paper
8” x 10”
$200