For over 30 years Yass was home to one of the nations’ foremost contemporary artists. Though some may have wondered at the ‘old guy with the pigtail’ who they occasionally saw in the main street, very few ever found out who he was. His name was Richard Larter and on Friday evening July 25 he passed away.
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Richard Larter was born in England in 1929 and moved to Australia with his family in 1962. Largely self taught his art education was gained mainly through travel in Europe in his youth, visiting a broad range of exhibitions. He was influenced by the work of many artists, ranging from Georges Seurat, Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt and by the early 1960s he had embraced ‘Pop Art’. In subsequent years, Larter’s art practice developed into both abstract and figurative, in addition to experimental film-making and performance work.
From an early stage he wanted his art to make an impact. He agreed with the philosophy that art should not sit placidly on the walls of museums but should engage people in a range of ways, whether it be by provoking, exciting, disturbing or enchanting the viewer.
Larter’s work was inspired by popular culture, music, politics and society, nature and personal relationships – particularly his relationship with his wife, Patricia Larter. They met in 1951 and married in 1953. Mother to their five children and his best friend until her untimely death in 1996, Pat was his model and collaborator. She also became an artist in her own right.
Yass Valley local Deborah Power knew the Larter family from childhood and ended up working as an assistant for a period with the artist.
“I fell in love with the Larters; every single one of them had that unique "Larter" quality that you just can't find anywhere else!” Ms Power said.
“When I worked for Richard, I would make sure all of my work was done in the morning so that when he arrived in the studio, we could spend the rest of the day talking and drinking copious amounts of coffee, listening to music and doing what we loved to do- paint!”
She goes on to say that Richard Larter, as a person was confronting, honest, generous, full of passion and life - something that could equally describe his art.
Artist Kim Nelson goes one step further in stating that “Richard didn’t just suck the marrow out of life, he gnawed on the bone!”
Nelson painted a portrait of Larter in 2009 which went on to be selected as a finalist in no less than four art awards.
“Our art is as different as chalk and cheese but for some reason we clicked,” he said.
“Richard’s daughter Diane told me recently that we had a closer relationship than most and that he didn’t allow many artists to paint his portrait. It’s something I will cherish”.
In 2008 the National Gallery of Australia recognized and celebrated the work of Richard Larter via a major retrospective. The exhibition covered his artistic practice from the late 1950s onwards giving viewers the opportunity to view a spectrum of works that were both provocative and dazzling, and at other times evocative and lyrical - but never dull! The retrospective revealed Larter to be a remarkable colourist, a technical innovator and a painter of lyrical landscapes and radiant luminosity.
The retrospective was a high point in the artist’s life and was a tonic to the artist. Indeed Larter had continued to create and prepare for new exhibitions right up to a month ago.
“Larter’s work is held in all major public collections throughout Australia and has a strong following among private collectors,” YASSarts chair, Alex Tewes said.
“It was sad to hear of the death of such a charismatic man. While any death diminishes all of us, the loss is particularly felt when it is that of an artist of his calibre”.
Richard Larter’s latest exhibition was due to open in Sydney on Wednesday July 30 at Watters Gallery and the gallery and family have confirmed that this will still go ahead. For further details contact the gallery on 9331 2556 or go to the website www.wattersgallery.com.