This bowl by Larry Rosso is a masterclass in compositional synthesis—merging coastal formline design with Northern stylistic influences in a way that is both technically refined and visually compelling. Though Rosso was of Northern Interior Athabaskan descent, his early training with ‘Namgis/Kwakwaka’wakw artist Doug Cranmer in the late 1960s left a lasting imprint, evident here in the confident handling of formline and the deliberate articulation of space. The loon, a motif Rosso returned to often, is rendered with dramatic precision: its sharp beak and expressive crest push forward, while bold black and red formlines flow seamlessly across the surface, wrapping the form with rhythmic continuity.

The human face nestled into the tail feathers is a striking compositional turn—transforming an elegant waterbird into a multidimensional being that hovers between animal and spirit. Relief carving and fine incisions elevate the surface, giving the design not only depth but texture, inviting both visual and tactile engagement. 

–First Arts with Christopher W. Smith