03/20/2026
INTRODUCING VINCE LARUE -- ARTIST & ULTRARUNNER -- SHOW IN APRIL with ARTIST
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
I’m a French citizen and I currently live in Cherbourg, France. I have spent a significant time in Phoenix, but traveled throughout the United States. I've spent over two years in the US on various trips and extended visits.
2010 – Started working for a Paris-based publisher of American literature called 13th Note editions, and made illustrations for one of their authors, Scottish, Phoenix-based, noir author, Barry Graham. After exchanging with him through social media, we worked on a graphic novel, DARK HEAT, “a contemporary hybrid of crime thriller and ghost story, set against the bleak desert cityscape of Phoenix, Arizona.”
2012 – First trip to Phoenix, one week only, to meet Barry Graham in person, after finishing the illustration of Dark Heat ~ 135 pages graphic novel. A childhood dream made true. A few months later, I came back to promote Dark Heat.
Graham moved to Portland in October and I followed after traveling through California, where I set up a meeting in Carmel-by-the-sea with one of my favorite artists, John Thompson, famous psychedelic artist from the Bay area in the 60s. I also went briefly to the San Francisco Zen Center on my birthday eve. What further inspired me to create a poster for their 50th anniversary. While in Portland, I made posters for local businesses such the Float Shoppe, and Animal Athletics.
2013 – I came back shortly late January after working briefly in a factory in France, a gallery owner in Phoenix had invited me to be one of the featured artists at his upcoming group show, “the Joe & Jan show”… about Joe Arpaio the Phoenix sheriff, and Jan Brewer the Arizona Governor at the time. A political and highly controversial theme that easily fed my creativity.
2014 – I was part of a new art show in Phoenix in December 2013, the theme was “Jesus”. I couldn’t make it in person but I had a few pieces in the show, and returned in January and stayed three months.
2014 – 2016. After so many connections in the art and literature scenes, I launched and illustrated a project called Southwest Noir, a collection of short stories featuring several writers from the American Southwest, Including Larry Fondation, James Sallis, Barry Graham, Steve Shadow, Jenna Duncan, etc. The project was supported by Robert Sentinery from Java Magazine and Steve Hanson, a friend, art collector and nutrition business owner.
The book came out in January 2016, and I was in Phoenix in February to promote it myself. I returned for three months in the fall, showed my works at the Grand Avenue Art Festival, worked with Three-Legged-Dog, a bluegrass band, which has James Sallis as one of its three musicians.
In between these travels, I’ve always kept a day job back in France. It switched from a food factory (2013-2016) to a sports goods store (2017- to present), what suits me better, as also a long time endurance athlete and active ultrarunner.
HOW ABOUT YOUR ART?
I work with pen and ink and illustrate graphic novels, stories, book covers. But also create posters, portraits. Books I have illustrated include "Dark Heat", "Southwest Noir", and “Filles Seules” a graphic novel with French writer Marianne Costa.
My drawings are either inspired by life events/encounters or music. I'm proud that my art has touched many; it has always been my real passport, my passport beyond a passport, beyond borders and nations, and a great tool for communication and expression.
Source: VoyagePhoenix
