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Don Lazo Biography

Ojai, California      Hanalei, Hawaii
805 715-2644       808 826-7053

Don Lazo was born in New York in 1954 and lived in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Florida, and Colombia before he was a teenager. His father was an executive with Coca Cola who kept the family moving and experiencing many places.    

Don was drawn to the dramatic colors and the architecture of Latin America. After attending prep school at Andover he went to Tulane University, in New Orleans, to study architecture.   Phillips Academy

During college he realized that though he loved the artistry of buildings, he was drawn to the landscape beyond the structures even more, and thus seriously started his career as an artist.   

Later, on a trip to California, he was taken by the light and shape of the land and moved to Newport Beach to pursue his career in art.  He worked as a commercial artist and also continued to paint landscapes that got larger and larger.  

 Many collectors of Don’s work met him during this time selling at the Affaire in the Gardens in Beverly Hills or at the Art A Fair in Laguna Beach.  Later, Don moved to Ojai, California and was accepted in to the Ojai Studio Artists group where he participated in their annual open studio tour in October.  

Don paints his large pieces in the studio after spending time on sight choosing the colors, composition, and movement that he wants to capture. You feel that you can step into his work.  The light and shadow are so dramatic and real that you almost experience being there.  His work has a certain romanticism to it just because of his love for the environment.  It evokes those memories of that perfect sunset or that moment when the clouds shift the lighting just so. 

Last year fourteen of Don’s pieces were chosen for the movie ‘Collateral” starring Tom Cruise.  A collection of his work was also purchased for the newly renovated Ojai Valley Inn and Spa (see article). His work has appeared numerous times in the Carnegie Art Museum.  A portrait painting of Don's wife was also chosen for the cover of "Rising Women" magazine.

At the end of 2004 Don, his wife of 20 years, Holly, and his two adventurous children, moved to the island of Kauai. Don is either painting in his studio or scouting for his next composition. His passion for his painting comes through in the increased depth and richness of his work and the confidence in each brushstroke.

Exhibits & Shows (partial list)

Aloha Images, Kauai, Hawaii

Ojai Valley Inn and Spa,  Ojai, California 

Movie "Collateral", starring Tom Cruise, used 14 paintings

Movie "The Hulk"
Carnegie Art Museum, Oxnard, California

Primavera Gallery, Ojai, California

Peppertree Ranch Art Show, Santa Ynez, California

Ojai Art & Music Festival, Ojai, California

La Quinta Art Show, La Quinta, California

Beverly Hills Art Show, Beverly Hills, California

La Jolla Art Show, La Jolla, California

Swain Galleries, Scotch Plains, New Jersey

Michael’s Galleries, Newport Beach, California

Art Affaire, Laguna Beach, California

 

 

Collections (partial list)
Toyota Corporate Headquarters (USA)
Ojai Valley Inn and Spa
Elixir Technologies Corporate Headquarters
John Cowsill (presently with the Beach Boys, formerly with Jan & Dean, and the Cowsills)
Solomon Brothers Corporate Headquarters
Pierce and Keely Brosnan  Pierce Brosnan

David and Danielle Zucker

Barbi Benton

Juan Alvarez

Dr. Jeffrey Luttrull

Jan and Marc Keyes

William Moses 

Jacqueline LeBourveau

Dr. Robert and Elizabeth McMahan

Chris and Maryla Webb Larry Chambers and Karen Johnson