On Our Radar: Nashville Artist Larry Stewart

Cowboys, outlaws, weathered frontiers, and the mythology of wide-open spaces all appear in Larry Stewart’s work, but rarely in the way viewers expect. Faces dissolve into expressive brushstrokes. Figures emerge from layers of charcoal, oil, acrylic, and collage before disappearing again into abstraction. The result feels less like a history lesson and more like a conversation between yesterday and today. For Stewart, that has always been the point.

Growing up in Laguna Beach, California, art wasn't something he discovered later in life. It was woven into his childhood. His father was an artist, making creativity a natural part of the household. While that early exposure sparked his interest, it was years later—after playing collegiate baseball—that Stewart found the discipline necessary to pursue art professionally.

"I was drawn to the freedom of it," he says. "There were no rules, just expression."

Today, that freedom is balanced by intentionality. Rather than chasing realism, Stewart embraces imperfection, movement, and emotion. His paintings are designed to capture how a moment feels rather than simply how it looks.

Now based in Nashville, Stewart has found a city that mirrors his creative philosophy. Music, entrepreneurship, and storytelling surround him daily, reinforcing the independent spirit that runs throughout his work. It is no surprise that he gravitates toward subjects who forged their own paths. The outlaws and cowboys populating his canvases become symbols of individuality rather than relics of the past.

His inspiration rarely arrives in grand gestures. More often it emerges from conversations, a passing song, people observed from across a room, or a quiet drive through town. Stewart pays attention to energy—the subtle emotions and fleeting moments that linger long after the details disappear. That same philosophy extends beyond the studio.

As the father of a young daughter, Stewart hopes she learns that building a meaningful life requires both courage and consistency. Success, he believes, isn't simply about outcomes but about remaining committed to the work, even when the path forward isn't obvious.

For Stewart, "living well" isn't measured by gallery walls or commissioned pieces. It is found in balance: creating meaningful work, investing in family, cultivating community, and enjoying the process of building something lasting. Like his paintings, it is a life rooted in tradition while remaining unapologetically its own.