Our Artists

BIOGRAPHY

Larry Hurst III

​Larry Hurst III (1957-2024) was born in Chicago and was a prolific and detailed painter. His paintings often depict scenes of nature inspired by photographs ranging from realistic to surrealistic interpretations. Many of his paintings also include unique and fantastical architecture. Hurst enjoyed plein air painting and liked to work outdoors. He took photographs of nature or people to use as references for paintings. In addition to painting, Hurst was a talented model house builder who produced scale model houses that he lived in and the historical Shelton McMurphey Johnson House.
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Hurst learned to paint in the 2000s while living in Texarkana, TX. He continued his studies at the OSLP Arts & Culture Program from 2013 through 2020. His contributions to our programs include a guitar, mixed-media art and sculptures, sketchbooks, paintings, and jewelry. He was a kind soul with an unlimited imagination and precise eye. He has exhibited artwork throughout Eugene and at Arts Unbound in New Jersey.

His other areas of interest included jewelry making, wig making, photography, and portrait drawing. He completed two painting and portrait drawing mentorships, working one-on-one with a mentor artist. When Larry passed in 2024, the Arts & Culture Center was gifted much of his work and will showcase it in the Eugene Gallery to continue celebrating Larry’s legacy.