ART

CHRISTOPHER KUHN

“A steadfast optimism underpins each of my paintings. Embracing the element of chance, they begin spontaneously, with watery stains, drips, or brush marks. In subsequent layers, improvisation gives way to strategic decision making, often in the form of meticulously rendered geometric gradients. Risk plays an essential role. Mistakes become stepping stones paving the path forward. Resolution is commonly achieved through a willingness to destroy what had been built up prior. Altogether, my works revel in the inherent dualities of paint, as both object and artifice, and canvas, as both a surface and a window. Painting has the potential to create spaces that are acceptable to our eyes and minds despite their conflicting logics. The negative space of the raw fabric support can become a positive element within the composition, while simultaneously reinforcing the flatness of the plane. Brushmarks that might represent the earliest beginnings initially appear as though they were the finishing touches. By piecing together visual clues, traces and textures left behind in the paint, the viewer is able to reconstruct the history of its creation, like a magic trick that still deceives despite revealing the source of its illusion.”

ChristopherKuhn.com

Christopher Kuhn was born in Chicago and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. His work has been presented in solo exhibitions with Ronchini Gallery, London, UK, Jacob’s, Los Angeles, USA, Galerie Bessieres, Chatou, France, Geary Contemporary, New York, USA and Field Contemporary, Vancouver, Canada. His paintings have been featured in art ltd., Blouin Artinfo, Harper’s Bazaar Art, Artslant, the Huffington Post, and on the BBC World News. He graduated from the American University of Paris with a B.A. in Art History and earned a Post Baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Later this year, he will present a solo show at Gallery ONE FOUR in Seoul, South Korea. 

Past Present, monotype on paper, 30 x 22 inches, 2016

Gone Fishing, oil and acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inches, 2016

Debbie Downer, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18 inches

Skywalker OG, oil and acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inches, 2017

Black Peter, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 15×12 inches

Nosey Rosie, 2018, oil and acrylic on canvas, 18×14 inches

Strawberry Cough, oil and acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inches, 2017

Peeping Tom, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18 inches
“Beyond Appearances” – 2018 – Galerie Bessieres – Chatou, France

“As I Live and Breathe” – 2017 – Ronchini Gallery – London, UK

Though Count, acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inches, 2015

Messy Bessie, 2018, oil and acrylic on canvas, 18×15 inches

Good Job Bob, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 15×12 inches

Honest Abe, 2018, oil and acrylic on linen, 24×18 inches

Simple Simon, oil and acrylic on canvas, 30 x 25 inches, 2018

Smarty Marty, 2019, oil and acrylic on linen, 24×18 inches
Loose Lucy, 2019, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18 inches
Slick Rick, 2018, oil and acrylic on canvas, 24×18 inches

“As I Live and Breathe” – 2017 – Ronchini Gallery – London, UK

“As I Live and Breathe” – 2017 – Ronchini Gallery – London, UK