Larry Zox

American, 1936-2006

Larry Zox was an American painter and printmaker whose vibrant abstractions positioned him as a significant figure in the Color Field and hard-edge movements of the 1960s and 1970s. His work explored the dynamic interplay of geometry and color. 

Born in 1937 in Des Moines, Iowa, Zox received early instruction under George  Grosz at the Des Moines Art Center. He later studied at the University of Oklahoma and Drake University before moving to New York City in 1958. He quickly joined the downtown art scene and maintained a lively studio that became a gathering place for artists, musicians, and other creatives.

By the early 1960s, Zox had developed a distinct formal vocabulary, beginning with collage‑inspired works made of painted paper stapled to plywood and evolving into flat, pure color fields defined by geometric shapes. His Rotation, Scissors Jack and Diamond Cut series each demonstrated how color itself could generate visual energy without reliance on representational forms.

Zox exhibited widely throughout his career, and in 1973 the Whitney Museum of American Art mounted a solo exhibition of his work that confirmed his status in the American art world. His works are held in the collections of major institutions including the Museum of Modern Art and Tate. His legacy endures through his bold commitment to color and form, making his work compelling for both collectors and scholars interested in post‑war abstraction.