Laverne ross biography

At a young age he drew pictures of the horses on his grandfather's Arkansas farm.
Our beloved Lavarne Ross was born January 1, 1941, in Flint, Michigan, to Annie Lee Luckado and Ed Ross, Jr. He attended Flint Public Schools.
As the poor son of a black single mother in the 50s, Ross's first encounter with formal art did not take place until he was eleven.

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Lavarne Ross

Lavarne Ross prints are found through out the United States and internationally. Lavarne is a native of Flint, Michigan. He has stated “I was born an artist. This is a god-given talent that I feel really blessed to be part of, because I feel Art is Me it is Us.” Lavarne does more with his artwork than appeal to the visual senses. He relays a message, tells a story, or reveals a part of history. Viewers of his compositions marvel at the fluid images.

Lavarne is a master storyteller that depicts moments of life he has been exposed to. He captures their very essence through a paintbrush. Today, the reflection of his other resources comes forth from the canvas where Laverne depicts family life, ancestry, music and religion. He says, “Just life itself because I have lived through a transition of the people and a city from one time period to another, as an artist, I feel obligated to record these events and changes on canvas. That is part of being an artist.”

Lavarne Ross lives in Mount Morris, Michigan. Whenever the opportunity lends itself, Lavarne

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We Are Flint: Capturing history on canvas

Editor’s note: Flint is oftentimes cast in a negative light. While the city has its struggles, take a deeper look and you’ll see people fighting for their hometown, building the city back, and creating its future through their personalities and ideas while staying true to its history and vibrant culture. This weekly series of stories will show that Flint is more than a place. Flint is its people. We are Flint.

FLINT, MI – “When an old person dies, a library burns down,” utters Lavarne Ross as he uses a walker to roam around his home.

At 83 years old, Ross, who was born and raised in Flint, has deep historic knowledge of the city that could only develop from personal memories and experiences spanning decades.

Raised on East Pasadena Avenue, Ross developed an interest in art at an early age.

His first canvas was his grandmother’s wall, which she was not happy about.

In the sixth grade, Ross turned to drawings out of interest and a little bit of necessity.

“Every time I’d go play basketball, my glasses would get knocked off and broke

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Painter chronicles black and hometown history with 'My Flint' exhibit

Lathan Goumas | MLive.com Flint-born painter Lavarne Ross, works on a painting in his home studio in Mount Morris Township on Tuesday. Ross will show an exhibit at the Village on North Saginaw Street in Flint Feb. 24-25 called "My Flint" that will showcase the Old Saint John Street neighborhood during the 1940s through the 1960s.

FLINT, Michigan - Flint has become notorious for dubious honors like Forbes' "Most Miserable City," but for Lavarne Ross, it means a lot more. The decorated painter/historian has lived all 71 of his years in the city, and at his "My Flint" exhibit this month, he plans to showcase its story.

"I believe that artists are messengers of the time period we live in," Ross said. "Before we had video recorders, you could go in a cave and find pictures of the world they lived in. God gave me this talent, and I guess it's my time to be here."

"My Flint" will be on display at The Village, G5262 N. Saginaw, Flint, from Frida