Alabama Artist Bruce Larsen Makes Movie Magic

Bruce Larsen, who repurposes discarded objects into sculptures and also has created special-effects work for movies, grew up in Auburn and lives in Fairhope, Alabama. He got interested in art at an early age and created his first piece out of coat hangers and blocks of wood at the age of 10. His work is described as “Repo-Renaissance” and is on permanent display at many locations across Alabama. His special-effects work has been featured in the films “Nomad: The Warrior” and “Black Night,” among others. He also was a creature puppeteer for the hit 2017 movie “Get Out.” Larsen was inducted into the Alabama Art Hall of Fame in 2016.

By Michelle Garland Segrest

Originally published in Alabama aLIVE! | Vol II, Issue 2 (May 13, 2005)

A cannonball soars across the battlefield and severs a soldier’s leg. Blood gushes. Swords pierce through the hearts of famous actors. Minutes later, a stampede of horses trample an entire army.

These special effects from the movie “The Patriot” provide realism for its viewers. It’s all in the magic of movie making. Or perhaps, it’s the creative work of behind-the-scenes people like Bruce Larsen.

Larsen was born, raised and educated in Auburn and now lives with his family in Fairhope. He is the creator of special effects for more than 150 commercials and 20 feature-length motion pictures. His credits include “The Patriot,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Freejack” and Stephen King’s “The Stand” among others.

How Artists Make Special Effects for Movies

“At the end of a production day, the director will tell us he needs something like a severed arm for the next day,” Larsen explains the process. “So we work all night with all different kinds of materials to figure out how to make it look real. We have one shot to get it right and then move on to the next special effect.”

Larsen says he knew at a young age he had a gift for art. But it required a long journey to build the confidence to approach his passion as a career. He studied industrial design at Auburn, but quickly burned out. He traveled for a while, airbrushing and drawing to earn money, then returned to Auburn’s art department where he fine-tuned his skills so he could pursue his first love.

It only took a few paying art jobs to give him the confidence to make his mark in movies.

“I’m not the kind of guy who can put on a coat and tie and sit in an office all day,” Larsen admits. So he works for himself, freelancing his talents to movie producers.

But it’s not the easiest way to make a living, he says. “You can’t wait for the phone to ring in this business. You really have to go at it and generate some interest... and always follow your passion.”

Since Larsen’s favorite form of art involves using random materials like sticks and metal pieces to sculpt, he thought this knack for creating might be handy on a movie set. He pursued that venue.

Larsen’s first movie job was the campy horror flick “Basket Case 3.” He used animatronics to make the monster Belial come to life. He worked on the Dreamworks film “The Dreamer” starring Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson and Kurt Russell. He built three mechanical horses for the movie, which was released August 2005.

When working on a movie, he travels to the set and is on site for production and filming. But Fairhope remains his home. He and his wife Joy, a certified teacher, homeschooled their children, Brock, Dane and Kaia.

“We came to Fairhope for a vacation years ago and found it hard to leave,” Larsen says. “Not only is this a beautiful city, but we found it to have an artsy community. It’s a magnet for writers and other creative people, so we fit right in.”

Larsen has always been an adventurer. Before his children were born, he spent his spare time hang gliding, sky diving and scuba diving. But art remains his passion. When not working on a movie set, the artist sculpts and works on his fine art for shows.

Postscript: Since this article was originally written in 2005, Bruce Larsen has continued to create art. In 2009, he was named the United States Sports Academy Sport Artist of the Year and is a member of the inaugural class of the Alabama Center for the Arts Hall of Fame. His works have been collected by the likes of former President Bill Clinton, singer Robert Plant, and actor Mark Ruffalo, as well as royalty and heads of state around the world. On his website https://www.brucelarsenart.com he writes:

RECYCLING CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

        I have two main focuses with my art. The first is movement. My experience in working in film and animatronics has inspired me to create sculptures that look like they could run, swim or fly away if they wanted to. "Does it move?" It’s a logical question from group of kindergarteners who’re looking up at a butterfly I created from old bikes. The answer, “Yeah, who wants to pull the lever?”

        My second focus is to show the materials themselves. Old farm equipment, driftwood I find on the beach, household items that were broken or outgrown. A recent commission was to make several pieces from a family's old baby grand piano. It was out of tune to the point of being beyond repair. Instead of sending it to a landfill they let me transform it into art. Recycling is not only good for the planet, it has the opportunity to be beautiful as well. 

        I hope you enjoy my work, and feel free to message me with any questions, comments, or commission ideas.

—Bruce Larsen

Michelle Garland Segrest is a veteran reporter who has written for several Alabama newspapers and publications. She is the President of Navigate Content, Inc.