Larry Willoughby Jr.

The crisp fall air wafting into New York City is the perfect meteorological welcome for our newest artist-in-residence, Larry Willoughby, Jr. Larry is the human embodiment of a cool breeze – peaceful, quiet, and a little bit surprising. “Here I am!” Larry says to his current and future fans. “Right on time to get to work!”

Larry is a born and bred New Yorker who lives in Corona, Queens and has been drawing since he was 4 years old. He brings positivity and harmony with him wherever he goes – along with his signature SWAG baseball cap. He often signs off his emails with the slogan “Peace and Masterpiece.”

Larry, who is a member of YAI Arts in Manhattan, makes drawings that exist in a warped New York City. One that straddles the past and the future, memory and imagination, dreams and nightmares. Robot nurses deliver lunch to a bed-ridden hospital patient; dolphins leap over elevated subway trains as a storm brews below, a little boy hangs his head in shame after being chastised by a teacher – who is a clown. Snippets of Larry’s personal memories intermingle with news headlines, greeting card schlock, and sci-fi daydreams to surreal effect, always topped off with Larry’s waggish humor. The resulting gems land somewhere between a Hallmark card, a doomsday prepper manual, and a found scrapbook from the year 2060.

During his residency, Larry is excited to spend some peaceful quiet time at Summertime, enjoying some healthy snacks along the way – brown rice, chicken, and lemon water, for instance. Larry has been listening to positive affirmations on Spotify through Summertime’s speakers: “my thoughts and feelings matter” and “I am grateful for my loved ones.” He’s also requested a tiny fridge full of blue Gatorade Zero (we’re doing our best)!

Over the next three months, Larry hopes to visit the Queens Center Mall, Rego Center Mall, a meditation center, and an Applebee’s for creative inspiration. His culminating show in December will be a love letter to New York City in all its real and imagined glory.

“I’m positive in myself and talented,” Larry said. “I’m focused on my art, becoming peace of mind, and I like to sell my artwork. People love my drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture.”

This residency is generously supported by The New York Community Trust, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and New York Department of Cultural Affairs.