Larry Gonzalez

Much of what has defined Larry Gonzalez’s vision has been shaped by his intimate relationship with his home country, Puerto Rico and, to an almost equal extent, to his ongoing interest in the cultures of Central America and the Caribbean. Developing a dual mastery in both mediums (photography and filmmaking) has allowed him to develop a visual body of work that often blurs the boundaries of documentary and conceptual styles. Gonzalez began his formal education in photography and filmmaking at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston where he completed his BFA degree. It was there where he received his first major influences in photography through his mentors, Abelardo Morell and Laura McPhee. In the mid 90’s he attended the Yale school of Art, where he was greatly influenced by artists such as Nan Goldin, Gregory Crewdson, Joel Sternfeld and Sally Mann. Over a period of more than a decade, Gonzalez has developed a large body of work in Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic and Central America. His photography work has evolved from a straight documentary approach to a more intimate and conceptual exploration of people, spaces and the perception of memory. During the past few years, he has also utilized the film medium to create documentaries and humanitarian work in the Caribbean and Central America. His projects for UNESCO have granted him an international reputation as one of the best documentary filmmakers. His first book, Tiempo Muerto (Dead Season), an autobiographical piece, has been successfully received in Puerto Rico and New York. He is currently preparing the publication of his second book, The Secret Life of Stick Figures, which explores the psychological and social dimension of children's drawings. The artist has also engaged as a commercial cinematographer and director for various advertising campaigns and short films through his production company, Crosslandfilms. His next photographic project, Tropical Noir, is in the process of development. This new work explores the urban decay and physical transformations in contemporary Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In the cultural field, Gonzalez is preparing and designing The Puerto Rico Media Project, an educational project that seeks to enrich and inspire local and international photographers and filmmakers to develop a personal voice as contemporary artists. Mr. Gonzalez currently lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico.