Larry Louie Gonzalez, (Ponce, Puerto Rico-1962), is a Latin American fine art photographer and filmmaker with a creative journey spanning over 25 years. His evolution as a photographer has seen him transition from a documentary approach to a more contemplative and conceptual style. Mentored by renowned photographers Abelardo Morell and Laura McPhee during his time at the Massachusetts College of Art, Gonzalez's vision was shaped by the intersection of personal memory and geography.
Further refining his craft at the Yale School of Art, Gonzalez drew inspiration from artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto, Gregory Crewdson, Joel Sternfeld, and Sally Mann. These influences propelled him to explore new ways to form personal narratives by combining landscapes and portraiture. These are elements which continue to be a driving force behind his work.
Gonzalez's large format staged photographs serve as a medium for his exploration of concepts such as identity, time, and space. By skillfully blending cinematic lighting techniques with traditional photographic methods, he creates intimate visual experiences that blur the boundaries between the found and the constructed. His latest projects aim to evoke a surreal universe where fact and fiction coexist, resulting in a narrative language that feels both mythological and deeply personal.
In addition to his photographic endeavors, Gonzalez has made significant contributions as a cinematographer, working on documentaries and commercial projects across the Caribbean, the United States, Central America, and South America. His collaborations with UNESCO have solidified his position as one of Latin America's foremost non-profit documentary filmmakers. This diverse range of experiences enriches his practice, allowing him to draw from both mediums to create visually compelling and thought-provoking work. With his next project, SUR, currently in development, Gonzalez continues to push the boundaries of his artistic expression, promising yet another captivating exploration of cultural narratives through visual storytelling.
Education
1996 M.F.A. Yale University School of Art, New Haven, CT
1992 B.F.A. Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Awards
2023 NYFA’s JGS Fellowship for Photography Grant
2019 International Lenscape Award for Narrative Photography
2017 CERF Grant
2004 AmeriCorps Grant
1996 Yale University, Travel Grant
1992 Morris Sheer Fellowship, Photography
1992 National Endowment for the Arts, NSF Travel Grant
1992 Mass. College of Art, Honorary Grant
1992 Donis A. Dondis Fellowship, Travel Grant
Selected Individual Exhibitions
“Parallel Realities”: Photographs by Larry Gonzalez - Axis Gallery, Sacramento, CA (2023)
"Visions of the Caribbean: Found and Constructed Realities" - Galería de Arte Latinoamericano, Havana, Cuba (2011)
“El Espacio que Habito” – Publica: Espacio Cultural, San Juan, Puerto Rico (2020)
"The Power of Visual Storytelling: Cultural Narratives" - Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Lisbon, Portugal (2015)
"Cinematic Visions: Exploring Identity, Time, and Space" - Museo de Fotografía, Madrid, Spain (2007)
"Memorias Fragmentadas: A Journey of Personal Memory and Geography" - Galería de Arte Contemporáneo, Ponce, Puerto Rico (1988)
Selected Group Exhibitions
"Crossing Borders: Latin American Photography Today" - Fotomuseum, Zurich, Switzerland (2022)
"Convergence: Exploring the Cinematic Aesthetic in Photography and Film" - Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain (2013)
"Visions of Nature: Landscape Photography Reimagined" - Galería de Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago, Chile (1997)
“Tiempo, Espacio y Transformacion” Photographs by Larry Gonzalez/Paintings by Nayda Collazo-Llorenz. Julia De Burgos Cultural Center, New Haven, CT (1995)
Articles & Reviews
“Larry Gonzalez: Night Visions” Author: Alasdair Foster. Magazine: Talking Pictures. Sydney Australia, December 2023
Blurring Boundaries: Larry Gonzalez's Found and Constructed Realities" Author: Laura Hernandez Magazine: Fotografía y Arte City. Madrid, August 2023
"Exploring the Caribbean and South America: Larry Gonzalez's Narrative Photography" Author: Diego Perez Magazine: Arte Caribe City. Havana, Cuba, February 2019
"Building Personal Mythologies: Larry Gonzalez's Conceptual Approach" Author: Paolo Rossi Magazine: ArtScene. Rome, Italy, September 2011
"Reframing the Connection: Larry Gonzalez's Journey through Photography" Author: Ana Morales. Magazine: Fotografía en FocoCity. San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 1997
Documentary & Humanitarian Projects
2014 Dominican Republic 1992-2012, 20 Years of Social Change, Santo Domingo, DR
2013 Contextos, Schools & Literacy, San Salvador, El Salvador
2010 Contextos, Schools & Literacy, San Salvador, El Salvador
2006 Literacy Through Photography, New York City Public Schools, New York, NY
Recent Teaching & Workshops
2023 - Instructor, Santa Fe Workshops. Santa Fe, New Mexico
2022 - Lecturer, El Patio de Raul Cultural Center Workshops. Rosario, Argentina
2018 - Adjunct Professor, College of the Seqouias/Verto Education, San José, Costa Rica
2015 - 2021 Adjunct Professor of Photography and Cinematography, Sacred Heart University, San Juan, PR
2012 - Lecturer, Liceo de Arte, San Juan, PR
2013 Foto-Estudio, "Taller Cinematografico", El Salvador, San Salvador