Larry Bird (artist)

Larry Bird
Born
Lawrence A. Bird

1941 (age 82–83)
NationalityKewa Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo
Other namesLarry Littlebird

Lawrence A. "Larry" Bird or Larry Littlebird (born 1941) is a Kewa Pueblo/Laguna Pueblo painter, filmmaker, actor and writer from Santo Domingo, New Mexico.[1][2] He has utilized ink and tempera in his works, which often display a loose, abstracted style. Bird has exhibited his artwork across the country[3][4] and has works in the public collections of several institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.[5]

Bird first attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) for design in 1963.[6] He worked for a time at the Museum of New Mexico[1] and was the recipient of an Interior Design (magazine) Award for Painting.[2] In 1971, a critic called Bird's painting "Son Returning Home" "one of the finest combinations of contemporary art and Indian heritage," saying the painting displayed "great grace and power."[7]

Bird returned to the IAIA in the 1980s as an instructor. He later began working in the performing arts as a filmmaker, producer, writer and actor, and was one of the first Native American artists to create films about Native people.[6]

  1. ^ a b King, Jeanne Snodgrass (1968). American Indian painters; a biographical directory. Smithsonian Libraries. New York : Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation.
  2. ^ a b Lester, Patrick D. (Patrick David) (1995). The biographical directory of Native American painters. Internet Archive. Tulsa, OK : SIR Publications ; Norman, OK : Distributed by University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-9936-8.
  3. ^ "Students Exhibit In Capital Show". The Santa Fe New Mexican. 1964-05-17. p. 41. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  4. ^ "Larkins Gallery showing two IAIA graduates". The Santa Fe New Mexican. 1970-05-03. p. 36. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  5. ^ "Yellow | National Museum of the American Indian". americanindian.si.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  6. ^ a b "Browse by Artist: Larry Bird". IAIA - Action/Abstraction Redefined. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  7. ^ Kirby, V. G. (1971-01-17). "Santa Fe Art". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 30. Retrieved 2024-07-04.