In 1933, Dora De Larios was born to immigrant parents in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights. Her father, who was from Mexico City, took the family to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City where, at 6 years old, De Larios knew she wanted to be an artist. Dora studied ceramics at USC with Vivika and Otto Heino (pictured above with Dora) and Susan Peterson. She graduated in 1957. In the 1960s, from a referral from Susan Peterson, she was hired by Millard Sheets to design tiles for the Gladding McBean/Franciscan division, Interpace (International Pipe and Ceramics). She joined a team which included other big names in ceramics, like Harrison McIntosh, Rupert Deese, Ken Price, Henry Takemoto and Jerry Rothman. In the 1960s Dora lived at Kings Road by R.M. Schindler. In 1968, she founded Irving Place Studio with her friend Ellice Johnston. The collaborative of female artists shared resources and hosted sales. A couple years back I found two hand printed posters, obviously designed by Dora. At 84, Dora passed away on January 28th. She continued to work until just days before losing her four year battle with cancer. Her most recent exhibition was held at Craig Kull Gallery and she currently has two pieces in LACMA's Found in Translation exhibition.
From Esoteric Survey
LAMA is proud to present a special selection of design curated by Esoteric Survey, featuring more than 100 works that represent platform founder Steve Aldana's guiding fascination with mid-century design and design history in California. Drawing from Aldana's personal collection as well as from his design-minded community, this collection includes iconic works as well as deeper cuts that represent lesser-known, but nonetheless integral, achievements of postwar artists and designers.
An urban planner by vocation, Aldana has nurtured his fascination with modern design, particularly the strains that emerged in mid-century Southern California, through Esoteric Survey for nearly 15 years. With a desire to share fascinating obscure design figures and document visits to architecture and design sites, he created the blog he named Esoteric Survey in 2009. What first served primarily as a private log for personal reference eventually blossomed into a valuable resource for like-minded design aficionados, and has since taken the form of an immensely popular Instagram account.
Explore Steve Aldana's Blog Esoteric Survey
