Larry Yes is an artist, songwriter and musician who focuses on positivity, humor and heartfelt emotion.
The conceptual basis of my work is messages of love designed to spotlight our interconnectedness. All humans are family, born from the same elements, and love is our shared home. Colors, shapes, words, and melodies help point the way to that home. Intentional, positive art for the people is needed now more than ever. My work aims to connect people to each other and themselves.
Larry Yes at The Museum of modern Art
as a part of “Guillermo del Toros: Crafting Pinocchio”
Everyone on this Planet is Family
Portland International Airport 2022
I would like to thank the Regional Arts and Culture Council for its Make Learn Build Grant that helped me buy new tools to make this installation possible
Nowness wallpaper
we are together
Pioneer Square March 2020
“have a seat - a meditation on love”
Union Knott February 2020
“Rainbows love cosmic light”
Cargo December 2019
the rainbow portal of love and good vibes
Portland Night Market January 2020
“love wall for all especially you”
Portland Night Market January 2020
“The Answer to all the Questions”
Pioneer Squares Festival of flowers June 2019
Photos by Rachel Houghton
“Highly Vibrational Fruits”
UnionKnott Gallery March 2019
photos by Julie Keefe
“What the World Needs Now is Love”
the Souwester Lodge march 2018
"Radical Positivity" May 2016
Larry yes Installation at the Portland Building as part of racc's monthly series
Caitlin at PDX Contemporary told me I should try for this RACC installation, so I put together a spirited proposal and got the gig. This was surely the biggest and most difficult install to date. All and all it was essentially 23 feet wide by 11 feet tall, plus a whole bunch of little spaces here and there.
It was so much fun bringing it into the space. We looked like circus clowns with a never ending parade of Positive Words and we hung it in like 4hours!! It was later pointed out to me that I had misspelled the word surely in my comment book (surly!!!). At first I was bummed, but during an opening I had for thee show, I got up on a ladder and made it right!! Thanx to Keith and William at RACC for being cold chillers!!
"Positive Words" September 2015
larry yes at pdx contemporary
Now I really wanted to build a room of Positive Words and somehow luckily I got the opportunity to do a window project at PDX Contemporary. Thanks to Vanessa Renwick for making this happen!!
It was a real treat and a lot of good vibes. I measured the space many times but I got it!! My only regret is that I didn't make a ceiling!! Next time!!
I really loved the bio I wrote for that show it was so short and funny... “Larry Yes was born in Milwaukie, Oregon in 1974. At age 8 he played Asteroids with Sun Ra and won! His art focuses on love and human connection.”
"positive mountain and positive heart" 2016
Larry yes at ROCA ... Reynolds Gallery of Contemporary Art, A Community Partnership Project Located at Reynolds High School
The heart was born out of need and the mountain was a moment of inspiration. I was lucky enough to be invited to come hang some work and collaborate with Katie Sullivan's art class at Reynolds High School. I had just finished thee heart and had a stack of words that I brought to the school. I showed my plan to thee students and they did all the work!! It was a great time and a true pleasure to work with these artists of tomorrow!
"108 Positive Words" May 2015
Larry Yes at Marigold Coffee
Right after making the first series of Positive Words at Cherry Sprout, there was a realization of the desire to see thee words hanging together with no gap in color and to fit perfectly.ish on a wall. Just then, Libby, the coffee delivery/art curator from Marigold, invited me to hang a wall.
It was thee beginning of a new realm for Positive Words and "108 Positive Words" was born. I brought my little baby for the installation and it was a full circle or goodness and mayhem. I learned so much from that process and it was a true joy!