On February 20, 2025, painter Larry Madrigal gave an inspiring artist talk at the Albuquerque Museum as part of the Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist program. After the presentation, Madrigal held a Q&A session with the audience, offering insights into his creative process and artistic journey.
The Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist program invites prominent contemporary painters from around the world to live and work in Albuquerque, fostering both local and global connections in the arts. Madrigal, a Phoenix native, is an exciting addition to this tradition. Known for his vibrant interpretations of everyday life, he discussed his journey from Phoenix to international acclaim, with solo exhibitions in Los Angeles, Paris, New York, and Bucharest. His work often explores the delicate balance between ambition and family life, capturing moments that teeter on the edge of chaos.
Larry Madrigal
Madrigal’s paintings, such as “Man on Trampoline” and “Making of a Memory,” incorporate these themes by depicting scenes that represent the tension between stability and disorder. His figures often appear suspended, capturing the fragility of daily rituals in a world full of unpredictable forces. In his talk, Madrigal spoke about his intention to connect his paintings to the chaotic experience of balancing his career ambitions with the responsibilities of family life.
“One of the things I wanted to do while I was here is … to connect one painting to capturing the chaos of trying to have this ambition as a painter and hold this responsibility of a family … and then I can move on to the really important stuff,” he shared.
The theme of balancing chaos and family life was evident throughout the works featured in the talk. “Man on Trampoline” (2023) portrayed a figure in mid-air, symbolizing the tension between stability and anarchy. Madrigal explained his fascination with painting upside down figures, a recurring motif in his work that adds an element of disorientation and complexity for the viewer.
Another featured painting, “Making of a Memory” (2023), depicts a toddler standing at the mouth of a crowded slide at a park, capturing the anticipation of chaos that comes with everyday moments. Madrigal shared that parks have become a regular subject in his work, offering the perfect opportunity to explore multiple figures and experiment with abstraction.
Madrigal’s work often includes “commonplace allegories,” paintings that serve as metaphors for personal experiences or broader societal themes. A perfect example is his 2019 painting, “Fitting Room and the Search for Style” which depicts a man trying on various outfits in a clothing store’s fitting room. Madrigal explained that the fitting room functions as an analogy for the artist’s search for a fitting mode of painting, subject matter, or style that best reflects his personality.
Stay tuned for Larry’s Open Studio on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 3:00–6:00 pm at the Art Annex. For more details and a deeper look at the talk, be sure to check out the full article by the Daily Lobo.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
1) “UNM visiting artist Larry Madrigal gives talk at Albuquerque Museum.” Originally published by The Daily Lobo on February 24, 2025. By Emmett Di Mauro and Elijah Ritch. https://www.dailylobo.com/article/2025/02/unm-visiting-artist-larry-madrigal-gives-talk-at-albuquerque-museum
2) LEARN MORE about the Frederick Hammersley Visiting Artist Program, a collaboration between the UNM Dept. of Art and the Albuquerque Community Foundation by visiting
https://art.unm.edu/people/frederick-hammersley-visiting-artist
3) LEARN MORE about painter Larry Madrigal by visiting his website at
https://www.larrymadrigal.com
4) LEARN MORE about the Albuquerque Museum by visiting their website at https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum/albuquerque-museum
