about lawrence scarpa

Born in Queens, New York in 1959 and trained as an architect, Lawrence Scarpa developed a love for making art at a very young age while on a construction site with his father where he would make objects from various construction waste materials. All his art from his childhood experiences is of creating with found objects.

Lawrence Scarpa is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the interplay between architecture, sculpture, and design. His pieces often reflect a deep consideration of materiality and form, using diverse textures and techniques to evoke both structural integrity and artistic expression. Scarpa’s art frequently features minimalist forms juxtaposed with complex layers, creating dynamic compositions that invite viewers to consider the relationship between space, light, and surface. His approach is rooted in reimagining everyday materials to reflect broader environmental and social concerns, aligning with his architectural philosophy.

Trained as an architect, Mr. Scarpa has been working with Art in Public Places for over three decades. His work is part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Design Museum, Washington, DC, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, California, The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, New York and The Haworth Friendship Collection, Detroit, Michigan. His work has appeared in over 100 museums, galleries and cities around the world including the Mcnay Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas, Gwangiu Biennale, South Korea, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy, The National Building Museum, Washington, DC, Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, Polk Museum of Art , Portland Museum of Art and The Four Seasons in New York.  He has been honored with numerous awards including the National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and the American Institute of Architects, Gold Medal, the institutes highest honor.

  • Hollywood Art Center, Hollywood, FL,  2026, McNay Museum of Art, San Antonio, TX  2025, National Building Museum, Washington, DC 2025, La Biennale Architettura, Venice, Italy  2025, National Building Museum, Washington, DC 2024, World Architects, Hamburg, Germany 2023, Southern Utah Museum of Art 2023, La Biennale Architettura, Venice, Italy, Italy 2023, Center for Architecture, New York 2022, Chicago Architectural Center 2022, Architekturmuseum Der Tum, Munich, Germany 2021, Gallery at Helms Bakery, Culvercity, CA 2021, 18th Street Art Center, Santa Monica, CA 2019, Verle Anis Gallery University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 2020, A+D Museum, Los Angeles 2020, The Center for Architecture, Sarasota, FL 2018 National Building Museum, Washington, DC 2018 The Frank Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL 2017 Gateway Sculpture, Pembroke Pines, FL 2017 Environments in Motion, Seatac/Seattle 2017 A+D Museum, Los Angeles, CA 2015 The Museum of Contemporary Art. Los Angeles, CA 2016 Portland Museum of Art, Portland, MA 2013 Open Hand Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2013 Center for Architecture, New York, NY 2013 ArtistXArchitects, Venice, CA 2012 Japanese American Museum, Los Angeles, CA 2011 The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York, NY 2010 Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, FL 2010 Modern Views, Chicago, IL 2010 Modern Views, New York, NY 2010 Bulthaup Showroom, Los Angeles 2010 18th Street Arts Center, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Gwangiu Bienale, South Korea 2009 Villa Necchi-Campiglio, Milan, Italy 2009 Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA 2008 One Haworth Center Gallery, Holland, MI 2008 Sacramento State University Arts Festival, Sacramento, CA 2008 Broadway 15th Street, Santa Monica, CA (installation) 2008 Architecture and Design Museum, Los Angeles, CA 2008 Florida Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit, City of Lakeland, Florida (installation) 2006 Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena, CA 2006 City of Santa Monica, CA, Cloverpark (installation) 2006 National Building Museum, Washington, DC 2005 University of Waterloo, Toronto, Canada 2005 Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL 2005 Architecture and Design Museum, Los Angeles, CA 2005 National Building Museum, Washington, DC 2004 Architecture and Design Museum, Los Angeles, CA 2004 Feldman Gallery, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 2001 Yale University, New Haven, CT 1998 Clyde Street Gallery, Portland, OR 1993 Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA 1990 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 1989 San Diego Design Center, San Diego, CA 1989 Tolarno Gallery, Melbourne, Australia 1988 Gallery of Functional Art, Santa Monica, CA 1987

  • Smithsonian National Design Museum, Washington, DC Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, New York, NY City of Pembroke Pines, FL City of Santa Monica, CA Sound Transit Art in Public Places, Seattle, WA Bradley Johnson FamilyThe Art of Friendship, Haworth Collection, Holland, MI Van Der Sys McClosky Family Collection, Philadelphia, PA Lindsey Family Collection, St. Louis, MO Huber Collection, Fayetteville, AK Gilmore Family Collection, Los Angeles, CA Cordic Family Collection, Los Angeles, CA Fishman Family Collection, Mill Valley, CA Gwangiu Collection, South Korea Villa Necchi Collection, Milan, Italy La Vecchia Guardia Collection, Vicenza, Italy Cappellari Collection, Vicenza, Italy Arnaldi Family Collection, Milan, Italy Burke Family Collection, Starkville, MS McRae Collection, Knoxville, TN Thom Mayne Family Collection, Santa Monica, CA Myhr Family Collection, Los Angeles, CA Borum Family Collection, Ann Arbor, MI

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