Jack Lenor Larsen preview
Textile designer Krista Stack and Curatorial Consultant Helen Drutt on textile artist and designer Jack Lenor Larsen. Preview from the VISIONARIES episode. PBS premiere December 21, 2018.
Jack Lenor Larsen is a textile designer, and an author/collector/ promoter of traditional and contemporary craftsmanship in all its forms. The “Larsen Look” (colors, materials, and weaves that are synonymous with modern 20th century design) was begun with his innovative and sophisticated hand-woven textiles. He studied architecture, furniture design, and weaving and attended Cranbrook Academy of Art (MI) receiving his MFA in 1951. In New York City he formed Larsen Design Studio, Jack Lenor Larsen Inc (fabrics), Larsen Carpet and Leather, and Larsen Furniture.
Larsen’s companies went on to design fabrics for homes, public buildings, corporate offices, and airplanes. His work can be found in the Museum of Modern Art (NY), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NY), Philadelphia Museum of Art (PA), the Art Institute of Chicago (IL), the Cooper-Hewitt Museum (NY), and the Fashion Institute of Technology (NY), among others. His art center in East Hampton, NY, the LongHouse Reserve, serves as a case study exemplifying a creative approach to contemporary life and is filled with an important collection of craft objects and treasures from around the world.