Lari Pittman's Declaration of Independence retrospective at Hammer Museum reveals early artistic integrity

Lari Pittman's retrospective Declaration of Independence at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles ran from September 29, 2019 to January 5, 2020. The exhibition presented the most comprehensive survey of his work to date, featuring over 30 years of production. Early work Birthplace (1984) revealed foundational elements that would characterize his later practice: calligraphic lines, sprayed silhouettes, appropriated folk art, and pictures within pictures. Pittman studied at CalArts where he was influenced by Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro's Feminist Art Program, though as a man he couldn't officially enroll. His work integrates diverse references from credit-card logos to Victorian silhouettes into a cohesive personal vision. The exhibition included a special room dedicated to his drawings, installed salon-style against a blue trellis that referenced his 2010 Orangerie installation at Regen Projects in Los Angeles. While Pittman's work is known for accessibility and humor, the retrospective presented an overwhelming amount of visual information across paintings and drawings. His mid-2000s period showed influence from Roberto Matta's surrealist 'inscapes' with more frequent still lifes and a more cohesive palette. The exhibition demonstrated how Pittman's queer identity and political position as a Latino painter in 1980s Los Angeles informed his artistic development from the beginning.