By Krystle J Bailey
“He really is a creative catalyst,” shares Union Hall Arts owner Zach Katzen about Ocean City-based artist Larry Woulfe.
While Larry himself is local to the Jersey Shore, his artistic influence is tied to a French style from the late 19th – early 20th century known as Fauvism. A term that means “wild beasts,” Fauvism values individual expression and the artist’s ability to use his or her intuition over academic theory.
“It’s kind of deceptive because he knows exactly what he’s doing,” explains Jim Dessicino of Union Hall. “He’s acutely aware of who his influences are. His color palette, the way he works, and his intuitive response to the subject matter are what he’s paying attention to. It feels fresh and new, but if you’re familiar with art history, it’s uncannily right where those things were 100-plus years ago”
Larry’s instinctual and versatile artistic expression was brought to light one Monday evening when he sat cross-legged on the floor during a life drawing class at Union Hall Arts in Atlantic City. The 60-year-old artist, who returned to his roots in Atlantic County five years ago, carries with him a toolbox of art supplies and a willingness to approach each new subject with a fresh set of eyes. Since 2022, Larry has shown up every Monday to create with a group of artists gathered around a live model, producing one breathtaking piece after another.
“It’s art therapy for me,” he explains. “It gets me out, and I connect with people while I’m drawing people. It brings out the humanity in me and connects me.”
This month, Union Hall announced its first-ever solo exhibition featuring a collection of Larry’s work. Each of the 54 pieces in the show was created within a two-hour window during the weekly Monday night Life Drawing sessions, which Larry dubbed “Serious Mondays.”
Each piece included in the exhibition was custom framed by Larry, who has forged a career as a conservation picture framer and works full-time at Salt Works Studios in Ocean City. Prior to returning to South Jersey, Woulfe was the owner of a custom framing company in Pennsylvania for 26 years. Using a collection of scrap material, old frames, and his love for hands-on carpentry, each piece is as uniquely mounted as it is created.
“I just fit the frame to the art,” explains Woulfe when asked about his creative process. “I draw and paint on cardboard boxes and file folders, whatever I have. When I look at the model, I don’t think about it. I just kind of do it; I just respond to it.”
With a formal education from Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University, Woulfe attributes his willingness to color outside the proverbial lines to his Holy Spirit High School art teacher, Sister Joyce, who encouraged him to try new ideas as a young artist.
“One of the things that makes Larry’s work so great to me is his ability to strip away all the structure and confines of traditional art school teachings and really get back in touch with his childlike wonder,” explains Katzen.
Artist Val Feo, a collector of Woulfe’s work, says, “I remain in awe of Larry, his process, and his work.”
“When certain people paint, you tend to recognize their art,” Woulfe told Shore Local in an interview. “I can recognize my own stuff, but it’s all different because I make one piece at a time. There’s no continuity; I approach the night as I go.”
Discover Larry Woulfe’s work at Union Hall Arts next to Tony’s Baltimore Grill in Atlantic City. “Serious Mondays” will be on display and available for purchase until November 15. Visit Larry on Instagram @LarryWoulfe.
