I feel deeply and believe we all have our own story to tell. My work reflects the narratives I think about as I try to describe the beauty I find in everyday life. Most often portraying individuals alone in space with their backs towards the viewer. I especially think about solitude and the quiet moments when we are left alone to our thoughts. My family and friends are the references I use in my work. My Philadelphia apartment and surrounding buildings and landscapes fill my sketchbooks and paintings when I do not explore the figure. I grew up in a tiny town, but I thrive in cities; I love the energy and the movement and the architecture that towers over our busy schedules. I am also responding to the idea of being alone in a metropolis, especially during a turbulent time. I am interested in the emotions of life universally felt among all people. In addition to this, light, shadows, and windows are extremely important to my current practice. Having spent a lot of time looking through windows this past year, I find myself drawn to historical references and symbolic interpretations of the window. It serves as a connection with the outside world and for isolation from it. My studio apartment rests on the twenty-second floor and faces the east. I rise early each morning to watch the changing colors of the rising sun slowly illuminate my room. Witnessing the sunlight come through my window panes is the most sacred part of my day, reminding me to take pleasure in the everyday simplicity of life.

Having grown up in Utah, Taylor Larsen enjoys all things outdoors.Traveling and experiencing the joys of life are a big part of his art practice. He received his bachelor's degree from Utah Valley University in Art and Art History and then moved to Philadelphia. He is currently a graduate student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts studying oil painting.