Valeri Larko

Speaking with the Acclaimed Painter Valeri Larko at the Abandoned Glenwood Power Plant in Yonkers, NY

October 10, 2024

Built from 1904–1906 by the New York Central Railroad to provide electricity for its tracks heading north from Grand Central, the Glenwood Power Plant was sold in 1936 to Con Edison. Since its 1963 closure, it has evolved into a wonderland of gritty graffiti, ephemeral artworks and more. Last week, we had the opportunity to speak to the wonderfully talented painter Valeri Larko who has been recreating segments of this distinctive urban treasure — nicknamed “The Gates of Hell” — on canvas and metal with oil paint.

This place is phenomenal. When did you first begin painting here? And how often are you here?

I started painting here in September 2023. I’m here as often as six or seven days a week for about eight hours a day. It’s been a blast! So many interesting, creative people pass through. Since I started coming here, I’ve met filmmakers, video producers, photographers and all sorts of urban explorers drawn to its remarkable cathedral-like architectural presence.

How did you discover it?

An urban explorer, Brandon Parsons, whom I’d first met on Instagram, introduced me to this plant.  When he visited NYC from his Ohio hometown, he suggested that we check out the Glenwood Power Plant. And he showed me the portal to enter.

We became instant fans after viewing Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko at the Bronx Museum of the Arts back in 2016. We love how you immortalize our favorite medium of visual expression. What drew you to graffiti?

The urban landscape — particularly abandoned spaces — has always fascinated me. When I was living in New Jersey, I began exploring industrial plants and found myself especially drawn to big sculptural tanks and bridges. But when I moved to New Rochelle, I started driving into the Bronx. My earliest discovery in that borough was of an abandoned gas station filled with graffiti. I’d always been interested in urban signage, and I loved the colors and playfulness of the graffiti that I discovered. It was great fun!

Can you tell us something about your process?

Generally during the winter months, I drive around exploring different neighborhoods. When I discover some site that interests me, I return when the weather is warmer. I then do a quick color story, and I think about the composition and the canvas-size that will work for it. I order stretchers and bars, and after I stretch my canvas and return with my color story, I begin to paint. I always paint on site.

How long does it generally take you to complete a painting?

Anywhere from several weeks to several months — depending on its size.

Can you tell us something about your personal mission?

I am always striving to be a better painter as I document the ephemeral. My mission is to capture pieces of history before they are gone.

What’s ahead?

I don’t think about “what’s ahead” while I’m working on a project. But once I’m close to completion, I begin thinking of the ideal venue to exhibit it. I’d love to exhibit these works in a museum.

That would be great! And how ideal it would be to see these paintings in the almost adjacent Hudson River Museum!

Images:

1. “Glenwood Power Plant, Turbine Room I,” Oil on Linen, 20″ x 16″ 2023

2. Valeri Larko on site

3. “Glenwood Power Plant, Turbine Room III,” Oil on Linen, 20″ x 16″ 2023

4. “Glenwood Power Plant, Rotary Building,” Oil on Linen, 20″ x 16″ 2024

5. “Glenwood Power Plant, Gates of Hell,” Oil on Linen, 20″ x 16″ 2024

Interview by Tara Murray and Lois Stavsky

Photo Credits: 1 & 3 Edward Fausty, courtesy of  Valeri Larko; 2 Sara C. Mozeson 4 & 5 Tara Murray 

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With Valeri Larko at the Bronx Museum of the Arts

June 9, 2016

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On view through June 26 at the Bronx Museum of the Arts is Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko, an extraordinary visual ode to a borough whose landscape is rapidly changing. Among Valeri Larko‘s paintings are many that are infused with the Bronx’s gritty graffiti. With her impeccable renderings of tags, throw-ups and pieces, the artist has immortalized our favorite art form in the borough that birthed it. On revisiting the exhibit last week, I had the opportunity to meet Valeri, who gave a tour of her exhibit.

We love the way you are keeping some of our favorite walls alive through your paintings. What spurred you to focus on this aspect of the Bronx?

I’ve always been interested in the urban landscape, and when I moved from New Jersey to New Rochelle — just a short drive from the Bronx — I discovered the just how rich the graffiti in the Bronx is. I think it is gorgeous, and I love how sites with graffiti always have great stories to tell.

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Can you tell us something about your process? How long does it take from beginning to end to create a painting?

Everything is done on location. If a site interests me, I begin with a quick pen and ink sketch in a small notebook using a uni-ball pen. If I then decide that I want to do a painting of the particular scene, I do an oil sketch of it. For most of my studies, I work on 300 pound watercolor paper that I staple to a board. For the larger version, I typically paint two to three months, also on location.

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What are some of the challenges you face in producing this work?

The weather is, by far, my greatest challenge. The wind is my biggest enemy. My car is — many times — my only shelter, and that is where you will often find me painting, especially in the winter months.

How do the graffiti artists feel about what you are doing? 

They love it. If they see a blank surface at a particular space where I am painting, they will sometimes ask if they can leave their mark on it — to be included in my painting.

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What is your most memorable experience of painting on location?

There are so many, but here is one that comes to mind: I had been working at a site for several weeks on Top Dollar, a painting of a trailer truck. Then one day when I showed up, I was surprised to find a very large boat in front of the truck. I could’t imagine how it got there! Luckily, I had mostly finished the painting, and the boat seemed too clean, too pristine and too out of place to include. But a few days later, the graffiti artist SAET with his friend NARO showed up. Once SAET had christened the boat with his tag, it was totally transformed. And so I decided to add the boat to the painting. I was even thinking of doing a new painting of the boat. But that never happened!

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Why was that? Why didn’t you get to do the new painting of the boat?

While I was still working on Top Dollar, Tommy — who was living in the Jay’s Hot Dog Camper — informed me that the site was about to be demolished. That is one of the hazards of working on site. Whoa! I still needed at least a week to finish my painting. Luckily I found the guys doing the demolition work, and they agreed to give me one more week to complete my painting! It actually took me eight days, and within hours after I finished, everything on the site was demolished. And what about Tommy who had been living in the camper? He headed on a Greyhound back home to Kansas City where he and his sons had built two houses!

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What’s next? Are any walls calling you? Any sites that particularly intrigue you?

Yes! I discovered an abandoned golf course across from Co-op City. And since I don’t know how much longer it will be around, I’ve been heading there as often as I can!

 What an incredible visual history you are creating!  And we are already looking forward to your upcoming solo exhibit at WallWorks in the fall.

Images

1. Valeri Larko — as seen last week — at the Bronx Museum

2. Ferris Stahl Meyer Diptych, close-up

3. Corner of Boone Avenye and 173rd Street

4. Bronx Drawbridge

5. Valeri Larko painting at Top Dollar

6. Top Dollar

Photo credits: 1-3 Lois Stavsky; 4 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; 5 John Wyatt & 6 courtesy of the artist; interview conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky with Sol Raxlen

Note: Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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At the Bronx Museum with John Ahearn, Rigoberto Torres & Valeri Larko

May 12, 2016

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Among the thoroughly engaging exhibits currently on view at the Bronx Museum of the Arts are two with special appeal to us street art and graffiti aficionados. Spotlight: John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres showcases a series of sculptures by the two artists, whose works continue to delight us on the streets of the Bronx.  And Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko features stunningly realistic renditions of Bronx graffiti, including some of our favorite walls that no longer exist. While visiting the Museum last week, we had the opportunity to speak to Lauren Click, the Director of Community and Public Programs.

Thank you for reaching out to us. Can you tell us something about your role here?

As director of community and public programs, I organize public programs related to Museum exhibits and events. I also work with the Community Advisory Council (CAC) a volunteer group of local residents with the goal of raising awareness of the Museum and organizing programming in response to community needs.

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What are some of the successful means that have been used to accomplish this?

I like to introduce folks to new experiences while mixing them with familiar ones. For example, on senior Thursdays we combine tea services with multimedia collaborative activities. We also have a weekly newsletter we send to subscribers informing them of all the events that take place. This is part of our effort to establish a large presence on social media. Our twitter page has over 38,000 followers. And since admission has become free, we have had four times as many visitors than we used to.

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What are some of the challenges that you face?

The greatest challenge is fighting the stereotype of being located in the Bronx. People are not aware of how rich and varied the cultural opportunities are in this borough.

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What would you like to see happen here at the Bronx Museum?

I would like to see it continue to evolve and engage increasingly diverse audiences.

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How can people stay informed as to all that is happening here at the Bronx Museum of the Arts?

They can follow our Calendar of Events on the Museum’s website. They can also keep up with us on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram.

Note: This Saturday — May 14, 2:00pm to 3:30pm — Valeri Larko will offer a free guided tour of her exhibit Bronx Focus: Paintings by Valeri Larko. The Museum is located at 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx and is easily accessible by public transportation.

Images

1 Rigoberto Torres, Daze

2 John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres

3 Valeri Larko, Zerega Avenue

4 Valeri Larko, Ferris Stahl Meyer Shipping

5 Valeri Larko, Power Ball

Photo credits: 1 Tara Murray; 2-5 City-as-School intern Sol Raxlen; interview Lois Stavsky, Sol Raxlen and Tara Murray

Hailed in a range of media from the Huffington Post to the New York Times, our Street Art NYC App is now available for Android devices here.

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