Potter Carter

Carter Potter, a distinguished artist known for his innovative use of materials, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1987 and Master of Fine Arts in 1990, both from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While he is primarily recognized as a painter, Carter’s artistic repertoire extends beyond traditional canvases to include a variety of found objects, especially movie film. This unique choice of medium reflects his deep connection to Los Angeles’ iconic film industry—a relationship forged through years of firsthand experience.

Carter’s early career saw him working as a production assistant at a computer animation firm, where he first encountered scrap film, sparking a creative exploration that would define his later works. His career trajectory included roles at a traditional ink and paint animation firm and eventually ascended to assistant producer on numerous live-action films for both television and theatrical releases.

Carter has exhibited extensively across the United States and Europe. His solo exhibitions have graced venues such as Angles Gallery in Santa Monica, Julie Saul Gallery and Jose Frière Fine Art in New York City, Rocket in London, Galerie H. S. Steinek in Vienna, and Sue Spaid Fine Art in Los Angeles. Notable group exhibitions include appearances at LACE, Margo Leavin Gallery, MOCA, and ACME in Los Angeles, The Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Kerlin Gallery in Dublin, and Kunsthalle Lophem in Bruges.

His works are part of prestigious permanent collections, including The Panza Collection in Varese, Italy; The Museum of Modern Art, Stiftung Ludwig (mumok) in Vienna; The Addison Gallery of American Art in Andover; The Santa Barbara Museum of Art; and The Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach.

Carter’s creations have been acclaimed in various leading publications, such as the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Art in America, The New York Times, Der Standard, Die Presse, Newsweek, Artweek, Art News, Art Issues, Artforum, Frieze, Modern Painters, and Artnet.

Today, Carter Potter continues to live and work in Los Angeles, where he remains an influential figure in contemporary art, perpetually inspired by the vibrant culture and history of his hometown.