Jeffrey T. Larson
Biography
A Lifetime of Looking
Jeffrey T. Larson was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 1962 and grew up near Minneapolis. From 1980 to 1984, he studied with Richard Lack at Atelier Lack. Further study in anatomy, bronze casting and museum collections deepened an education built around careful observation and the practice of painting.
For Jeff, learning to paint is inseparable from learning to see. Still life gives him time to consider composition, drawing and subtle shifts of value. Outdoors, changing light calls for a different kind of attention. Moving between the two has shaped a practice that continues to develop through looking, questioning and returning to the work.
His paintings have received national and international recognition. In 2024, King Hall won the Portrait Society of America’s William F. Draper Grand Prize. The portrait entered the permanent collection of the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art. His work is also held by the Tweed Museum of Art, which presented Domestic Space, a retrospective spanning twenty-five years, in 2016.
Teaching carries that practice forward. In 2016, Jeff co-founded the Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art in Duluth with his son Brock. He continues as its director and a full-time instructor. As a co-founder of Objet, he brings a belief in the trained eye, personal vision and the knowledge one generation of painters can pass to the next.
Awards, Honors and Publications
Recognition, Features and Film
- 2024
- Portrait Society of America: William F. Draper Grand Prize, “King Hall”
- 2022
- “The Oil Painter’s Color Handbook”, Todd M. Casey
- 2017
- “Jeffrey T. Larson: Documentary”, a Joe Hawkins film. Catalyst Film Festival award winner.
- 2017
- Art Renewal Center, International Salon Competition, First Place, Figure: “Laundry”
- 2013
- The Artist’s Magazine, National Competition, First Place, Still Life: “In the Light of Life”
- 2012
- The Artist’s Magazine, National Competition, First Place, Still Life: “Bread Rack”
- 2009
- The Artist’s Magazine, cover, November issue
- 2009
- The Artist’s Magazine, National Competition, First Place, Landscape: “Blue Marsh”
- 2009
- Art Renewal Center, International Salon Competition, First and Third Place, Still Life: “Reflections” and “Electrolux”
- 2008
- The Artist’s Magazine, National Competition, First Place, Still Life: “Electrolux”
- 2008
- The Individualist, May issue, “The Artist, Jeff Larson’s Radical Perceptions”
- 2007
- Susan K. Black Foundation, Art of Flowers Award, Best Miniature: “Dandelion Bouquet”
- 2004
- American Artist magazine, cover, February issue
- 2001
- Classical Realism Journal, Vol. VI, Issue 2, “Focus on Excellence”
- 2000
- PBS, Venture North Show
- 2000
- National Diabetes Association, featured artist
“Craftsmanship gives an artist the freedom to express what a trained eye can see.”
Art Galleries
Past and Present
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
- Cavalier Gallery, New York, NY
- Maxwell Alexander, Los Angeles, CA
- Brennon Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA & Santa Fe, NM
- Collins Gallery, Orleans, Cape Cod, MA
- Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York, NY
- Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY
- Tree’s Place Gallery, Orleans, Cape Cod, MA
- Trailside Americana, Scottsdale, AZ
- Minnesota River Gallery, Burnsville, MN
- Christines of Santa Fe, NM
- Heritage Art Gallery, Alexandria, VA
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN
- The Beard Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Past Exhibitions
A Record of the Work
- 2025
- New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art, New Salem, MA. Painting competition finalist, Day by Day.
- 2024
- Portrait Society of America, Atlanta, GA, Top twenty exhibit. Awarded the William F. Draper Grand Prize for the portrait “King Hall.”
- 2024
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, Third Annual Hartley Invitational
- 2024
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, “Face to Face” Exhibition
- 2023
- Keeneland/Cross Gate Gallery, Lexington, KY, “The Sporting Auction”
- 2023
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, Second Annual Hartley Invitational
- 2022
- Keeneland/Cross Gate Gallery, Lexington, KY, “The Sporting Auction”
- 2020
- Collins Gallery, Cape Cod, MA, Two-person Exhibition
- 2019
- Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, “Small Works Show”
- 2019
- Coors Western Art Exhibit, Denver, CO
- 2017
- Art Renewal Center Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, and MEAM: the European Museum of Modern Art, Barcelona, Spain.
- 2016
- Tweed Museum of Art, Duluth, MN, Jeffrey T. Larson: “Domestic Space” Twenty-five-year retrospective.
- 2015
- Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI, “Birds in Art”
- 2012
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Three-person Exhibition
- 2012
- Galleria, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2011
- ACOPAL: American China Oil Painting Artists League, Traveling Exhibition: The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH, and the World Art Museum in Beijing, China.
- 2011
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Solo Exhibition
- 2010
- Galleria, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2010
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Solo Exhibition
- 2009
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Two-person Exhibition “Following the Artistic Conscience”
- 2008
- Boston International Fine Art Show, Tree’s Place, Boston, MA.
- 2008
- Eleanor Ettinger Gallery, New York, NY, Still Life Exhibition
- 2008
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Solo Exhibition
- 2007
- Boston International Fine Art Show, Tree’s Place, Boston, MA.
- 2007
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA, Small Works Exhibit
- 2007
- Galleria, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2006
- Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY, Small Works Exhibit
- 2006
- American Fine Art Show, Arcadia Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
- 2006
- Tree’s Place, Cape Cod, MA
- 2005
- Galleria, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2005
- American Fine Art Show, Arcadia Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
- 2005
- Art Miami, Arcadia Gallery
- 2004
- American Fine Art Show, Arcadia Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
- 2003
- Wayzata, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2001
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 2000
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1999
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1998
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1997
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1997
- Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo, FL, Solo Exhibition
- 1996
- Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1995
- Minnesota River Gallery, Burnsville, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1994
- Minnesota River Gallery, Burnsville, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1993
- Wayzata, MN, Solo Exhibition
- 1991
- Tokyo, Japan and Guam, Traveling Group Show
- 1989
- Fullerton Estate, Wayzata, MN, Two-person Exhibition
- 1988
- Fullerton Estate, Wayzata, MN, Two-person Exhibition
Documentary
A Film by Joe Hawkins
An award-winning documentary by Joe Hawkins, produced by East Oaks Studio, tracing Jeffrey T. Larson’s life, work and commitment to painting.
Jeff’s story begins with an unexpected encounter with Richard Lack and a decision to devote his life to painting. Through his own recollections and those of his family, the film traces his training, his partnership with Heidi and the daily work behind a life in art.
His reflections on light, observation and persistence lead from the studio to the landscape, then into the classroom. As Jeff and his son Brock build their school in Duluth, the story turns toward the knowledge and discipline they hope to pass to the next generation.
Teaching Experience
Passing the Knowledge Forward
- 2016 – Present
- Director and Co-founder, Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art, Duluth, MN
- 2010 – 2015
- Visiting Instructor
- 1995 – Present
- Seminars and lectures on oil painting
- 1986
- University of Minnesota, traditional oil painting techniques
- 1984 – 1986
- Assistant Director and Head Instructor, Atelier LeSueur, Excelsior, MN
- 1983 – 1985
- Instructor, Atelier Lack, Minneapolis, MN
Art Education
The Foundations of a Practice
- 1988
- Minnesota private foundries, bronze casting and finishing
- 1987
- Began museum study in the United States and abroad
- 1983
- University of Minnesota, human anatomy
- 1980 – 1984
- Atelier Lack, Minneapolis, MN. Study under Richard Lack.