Lari Pittman, the half-Colombian, half-American contemporary painter has thrown together the decorative arts, bright colors and penises in painting like it’s never been thrown together before.

Standing at 5 feet, 4 inches, you would think that Pittman’s paintings would be proportional to his height. Au contraire, painting has become Pittman’s cardio because they are so ginormous - up to 10 feet tall and 30 feet wide to be exact.  

Born in Glendale, California to a Colombian mother and an American father, Lari Pittman wasn’t like other artists. He was supported by his parents in everything he did (whatta concept) and never ridiculed. He recalls that, “when [he] at the age of 4 was asked to set the table, he clipped earrings to the plates. In his family, being "the sissy child" afforded special status. He wasn't scolded, he was praised. He remembers his young self as "very effeminate -- very prissy, very precocious, and always very vain." He even made his pets vain. Pittman recounts a story of dressing his pet chicken, Jaime, in a little vest so that he was properly styled for a flight to Colombia. Needless to say he knows what the people want, and gives it to them.

Pittman’s life wasn’t always awesome and full of parental approval and tiny chicken outfits though. In 1985, Pittman was shot in the stomach by a startled burglar in his home in Los Angeles. Amazingly it didn’t kill him but resulted in two things 1) obviously a lot of surgeries and medical issues and 2) an artistic breakthrough. Was it worth it? I would venture to guess that “no” would be the appropriate answer even though it did stir up some truly incredible pieces.