Lance “Varg” Vargas has been creating fine folk art from salvaged wood and recycled materials since 2007. He has created more than 10,000 pieces for clients, collectors, businesses and art lovers all over the world. He began selling in New Orleans’ famous Jackson Square in 2008 and continues to do so to this day. in 2016, he opened Deurty Boys Gallery at Chartres and Dumaine street in the French Quarter.
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“I always carried with me a need and desire to create some kind of visual art. I had images in my head. I had ideas. I saw tones and shapes in the world that spoke to me, beckoned me to form them into something of value, value to me at least. But I had no avenues, no contacts, no true standing to even attempt to become an artist. Nothing except that bossy muse.”
Varg began creating art in the backyard shed of his house in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans in 2007. Inspired by the heartpine grains and grooves of the hardwood floors he had recently refinished, Varg fell in love with antiques woods, finishes, stains, paints. A self-taught graphic designer, he knew he could develop himself as a visual artist using the same disciplines he utilized as designer of pamphlets, web sites and materials for local businesses.
“With some insurance money after Katrina, my ex-wife and I built a shed for lawnmowers and line trimmers and rakes and what not. There was some old paint in there and brushes and some cutting tools, stuff left over from numerous renovation projects, and the use spoke her words to me… I just grabbed a few pieces and put together a little sign that read “Live, Love, Revel, Rejoice,” a simple phrase that I felt communicated my mantra. I posted it online and was shocked when it sold. Graphic design was helping pay my bills but it wasn’t doing much to satisfy the muse. Art could do both. But, could I do art?”
After testing the waters at local markets, Varg acquired a license to sell in Jackson Square in 2008. Over the next 7 years, he would hone his craft day-to-day and week-to-week by constantly selling and thus having to replace pieces of art. Each day in the shed produced new pieces of art but also new techniques to make them more appealing to his mostly-tourist clientele.
“It was rough at first. Thin skinned artists don’t last. Some people find any reason to drag an artist down. Fine artists get dragged. Folk artists definitely do. Imagine what a fledgling folk artist like myself at the time would have to go through? It was hard but the thrill of selling on Jackson Square, meeting and befriending fellow artists, and basically becoming and entirely different type of creator, made every insult worth it.”
Varg began to develop themes of Humanism in his work as the years passed. He began to notice that works that spoke directly to his clients seemed to move them more. He tried to embrace and communicate the experience of being alive. Hearts emerged as common theme. Old phrases from literature did as well. He learned to create figure from shapes of wood. A blend between the genuine and disarming aesthetic of his work and the ideas it conveyed emerged.
“I couldn’t get away from stories. I have never been able to get away from stories. My own. Other people’s. Factual ones. Fictional ones. I began to tell stories in the pieces as much as I could. I of course had two muses to answer to. The muse of industry is always out there, with her scorn for my laziness and my desire to waste time creating anything that wasn’t a guaranteed sell. On the other hand was the muse of inspiration, compelling me to create things that had never been seen before, that were unique to me and my vision of our Universe. It’s not an even match. Industry wins most of the time.”
After growing success on Jackson Square, Varg and fellow Jackson Square artist Jeremy Hebert opened Deurty Boys Gallery on St. Peter Street in October, 2015. Eventually, they moved to their current location on Chartres and Dumaine and have been open there since May of 2016.
“Opening Deurty Boys was a dream come true. I never thought I could pull it off but with Jeremy and several others’ help, we pulled it off. Plague, monsoon, depression, bad business partners, debt, none of these vexing difficulties has managed to destroy us yet. And we have thrown a lot of good parties and established a sweet sense of community there as well. I am quite grateful to all who helped us along the way.”
Having the space to now stage and house pieces long term, Varg began to expand the scope and size of the artwork he was creating. Larger more detailed pieces began to populate the gallery, the largest and most detailed being, “The Lost Souls of South Louisiana” a 9′ x 5′ opus depicting dearly departed friends and neighbors of the artists. From there larger pieces such as ornate alligators, pelicans made of lath board and massive depictions of the world famous St. Louis Cathedral began to emerge.
“Larger, more detailed, breathtaking pieces began to inspires me as I began to utilize the space the gallery provided. Nothing conjures a reaction like thousands of found objects formed into a singular image. It is rewarding to see the looks in folks’ eyes when they gaze at the big pieces. It’s a thrill still. And every now and then, they even buy one.”
Varg’s larger works caught the attention of several chains of restaurants throughout the region and he was soon called upon to create scenes and help augment the walls of the bars and eateries across the South. Large scale pieces and murals began to be installed in various culinary establishments hoping to infuse some authentic New Orleans aesthetic into their business.
“It is quite an honor for a fledgling or established business to choose me to help with the decor. These people are investing a ton of money in the design of their bar or restaurant and for them to look at my art and wish to be partnered with me in such a way is humbling and I am quite grateful for the opportunity”
Varg hopes to continue making art into his old age and continue to develop new themes and techniques as he does.
“New discoveries in theme or appearance do not come as easy as they used to but still happen from time to time. The muse hasn’t left me. She is still right here. She is getting older. I am getting older. But we have every intention of shuffling on down the road of life happily together.”