Career
Aldrich began working in the fashion trade in 1924. He began producing garments under his own label in the 1940s. He was president of the New York Couture Group.
He began collecting art in 1937, though initially it was just a circumstantial act and not from any great interest.
When World World War II ended, air travel to Paris resumed. His collection grew to be substantial.
On his way out to buy cigarettes one day, he spied a building for sale. Seeing that it had high ceilings, he thought it would work well as a place to house his extensive art collection.
After investing a substantial sum to renovate, he turned it into a museum, initially called the "Old Hundred", after the name of the building.
He soon changed it, however, because the name did not indicate the contemporary character of the contents. He founded the Larry Aldrich Museum in 1964. The Museum awards an annual Larry Aldrich Award.