LARRY K. MARTIN
In 1976 Larry K. Martin, a native Alabamian, returned home from a career in Tropical Medicine to pursue another lifelong ambition- Wildlife Art. After receiving a PhD from Tulane University, he combined tropical medicine research at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center with field research in the Amazon rain forests of Colombia and Brazil. But a stronger calling then led him to a career in art and in wildlife conservation, from the scientific world, back full circle to his hometown, Anniston, AL. After three years as Curator of the Anniston Museum of Natural History he, in partnership with C.D. Hancock, began publishing his wildlife paintings through Wren’s Nest Gallery, Inc. Since that date more than 400 of his paintings have been issued as print editions. His original paintings and prints can be found in major corporate and private collections, including those of President George H. W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Bob Hope, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lee Greenwood and Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf. His works have hung in both Houses of The U.S. Congress, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Audubon Naturalist Society, as well as in governmental offices in his home state, including the office of Governor Bob Riley. Other public figures and statesmen from many countries throughout the world own works by Larry K. Martin.
Being strongly influenced by the wonders of the natural world, Martin has worked continually in conservation and wildlife art in efforts to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the Earth’s natural treasures. His print editions have been used in fund raising efforts for groups such as Ducks Unlimited, the Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Rescue Service and the Cahaba River Society. The Anniston Museum of Natural History recently received the original LKM painting, “Remembered”, featuring elephants in Kenya, commissioned and gifted by William R. Ireland. The painting is on permanent display in the museum’s African Hall.
Larry K. Martin’s intricately detailed works allow viewers to glimpse the beauty of nature while observing the respect with which the artist treats his subjects. Life experiences are often reflected in an artist’s work, so it is easy to see why Larry’s paintings show such a range of emotions, subject matter, and rendering techniques. In recent years Larry has again gone “full circle” by returning to the tropics- this time to paint subjects from the rain forests of South America and the dry savannahs of Africa. He has traveled in the mountains and Amazonian jungles of Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, and led photographic safaris to Kenya in 2001 through 2014. He plans to continue to host annual group safaris to Africa, Central and South America. He has led fifteen photography safaris to Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa between 2001-2014.
Upcoming Larry K. Martin works are likely to include familiar subjects from his native southeastern United States as well as the more exotic subjects from his safaris. As he views it, “Variety keeps the creativity flowing.”.
Honors and Accomplishments
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Listed in “ Who’s Who in American Art”
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Included in Goldblatt’s “Artists of the Century”
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Received Meritorious Service Award, National Audubon Society
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Presented “Key to the City, Birmingham, AL
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Only artist to receive the “Living for America” Award, for his efforts in conservation
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Licensed Larry K. Martin images appear on hundreds of products, including greeting cards, murals, knives, calendars, plaques, apparel, coasters, table accessories checks, and more than 175 different collectibles by The Bradford Exchange.
Special Commemorative Prints and Collectibles
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1985-86 Alabama Duck Stamp
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Sponsor Artist, Ducks Unlimited Print
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Commemorative Print Series for the Cahaba River Society
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Eagle Conservation Print, Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
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Bicentennial of U.S. Constitution, Commemorative Eagle Print and Bicentennial U.S. Marshals Eagle Print
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James Madison Memorial Foundation- Commemorative Eagle Print
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Centennial Celebration of the Song “America the Beautiful” commissioned by The Bradford Exchange for a series of Commemorative Steins, Plates, Ornaments, Print and Sculpture editions
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Original Bald Eagle painting commissioned by the Center for Domestic Preparedness, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, unveiled at that facility on September 11, 2002