Lawrence M. “Larry” Poons (b. 1937). Tokyo-born American abstract painter (www.larrypoons.com) whose career spans more than six decades and encompasses dramatic stylistic evolution from tightly controlled optical paintings to wildly gestural, process-driven canvases.
Born to American parents in Tokyo, Poons moved to the United States as a child and later studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music before transitioning to visual art. His early training in music, particularly his interest in mathematical composition and serial techniques, profoundly influenced his approach to painting.
Larry Poons first gained widespread recognition in the 1960s with his “dot” paintings—carefully orchestrated compositions featuring small ellipses arranged on monochromatic fields according to complex systems.
These works aligned him with Op Art and Color Field painting movements, and his exhibitions at prestigious galleries quickly established him as a major figure in American abstraction.
The dot paintings demonstrated Poons’ interest in perceptual phenomena and his ability to create visual experiences that seemed to pulse and vibrate despite their static nature.
In the early 1970s, Poons dramatically changed direction, abandoning his systematic approach for an intensely physical method of painting.
He began pouring, throwing, and manipulating thick layers of acrylic paint, creating dense, richly textured surfaces that bore little resemblance to his earlier work.
This shift confused some critics and collectors but demonstrated Poons’ commitment to following his artistic vision regardless of market expectations.
The later paintings feature explosive color, aggressive mark-making, and surfaces built up over months or years through countless interventions.
Larry Poons has remained committed to Abstract Expressionism and gestural painting during periods when these approaches fell out of fashion.
His persistence and refusal to compromise have earned him respect among fellow artists, many of whom view him as one of the most important American painters of his generation.
Poons’ work resides in major museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
As a member of American Abstract Artists and a fixture of New York’s art community, Poons regularly attends events such as the Reginato Soho Gallery Holiday Gala, where his presence connects younger artists to the history of postwar American painting.
His willingness to engage with students and emerging painters, sharing technical knowledge, and discussing the challenges of sustaining a long career, makes him a valued mentor figure. Larry Poons continues to paint in his studio, producing ambitious new work that demonstrates the same fearless experimentation that has characterized his entire career.
