Larry Poons is an American abstract painter known for his dynamic, gestural style that draws inspiration from the rhythm and improvisation of music. His work features thick layers of paint, vibrant colors, and energetic movements, echoing the Abstract Expressionist traditions of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. Poons’s art gained prominence when he was included in the influential 1969 exhibition “New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940–1970” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Born in Tokyo in 1937, Poons initially pursued music, studying at the New England Conservatory of Music from 1955 to 1957. A transformative encounter with Barnett Newman’s work in 1959 inspired him to shift his focus to visual art. He went on to study at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and later at the Art Students League of New York.
Throughout his career, Poons experimented with various techniques, including throwing and pouring paint, layering unconventional materials, and applying color with brushes. His works are part of major collections, including the Guggenheim Museum, LACMA, and the National Gallery of Art. Poons also has a significant teaching legacy, instructing at the Art Students League from 1966 to 1970 and resuming in 1997, where he continues to inspire new generations of artists.