CHRIS BRANDELL
Chris’ compositions are intimate expressions of her interactions with the natural world. Her limited palette and the texture and marks she makes are informed by the things she loves found near her studio on Marco Island: shells, driftwood, pieces of concrete, and wire and more. Chris is also emotionally connected to words, quotes and poetry, music and lyrics. She represents these physical and heart-felt inspirations abstractly with oil paint and a variety of mixed media on two dimensional surfaces.
“I’m never sure where my intuition will lead me or what will materialize with each piece. I usually start my paintings with a drawing. The drawing may end up being the focus or it may just be the foundation for something new. I’m interested in pursuing the idea that Divine perfection exists in life’s most simple, unadorned and uncontrolled forms, such as the beautiful objects that inspire me. When my paintings express this pure energy, I believe a viewer can feel it, and this makes my work complete.”
Born and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Chris’ work continues to evolve in her studio in Marco Island, Florida. After a successful career as a business executive and part-time artist, she has been focused full-time on painting since early 2019. Her paintings can be found in private and corporate collections including that of Southern Methodist University, Phi Beta Phi in Texas, and The Silva & Edge Buildings in Maryland. Chris is currently represented by: Gardner Colby Gallery; Huff Harrington Fine Art, Artful Sol Gallery, Design Supply Gallery, and Exhibit Art Gallery.
CURRICULUM VITAEPainter, Oil and Mixed Media
b.1964 | New Rochelle, New York
Currently lives and works in Marco Island, Florida
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS2022 | Sightseeing Three Artist Exhibition, Huff Harrington Fine Art, Atlanta, Georgia.
2022 | Right Here All Along Two Artist Exhibition, Palette Home, Richmond, Virginia.
2022 | Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition, curated by Jack Fischer of The Jack Fischer Gallery.
2022 | The Architecture of Healing Four Artist Exhibition, Sozo Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina.
2021 | Found Objects Solo Exhibition, Palette Home, Richmond, Virginia.
2021 | Women in the Arts Group Exhibition, 2nd Annual Latela Curatorial at Umbrella, Washington DC.
2020 | The Words Solo Exhibition, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, Virginia.
2020 | 100 Women in the Arts Group Exhibition, Latela Curatorial Virtual Exhibition.
2019 | Perspective & Prose Four Artist Exhibition, Sozo Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina.
2018 | Abstract Invitational Group Exhibition, Invited Artist, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, Virginia.
2017 | Halo Solo Exhibition, Asbury Dunhill for Sozo Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina.
2017 | Abstract Invitational Group Exhibition, The Athenaeum, Alexandria, Virginia. Best In Show for Deliberate Passage.
2016 | Prose Solo Exhibition, Gallery43, Roswell, Georgia.
2016 | Repression Solo Exhibition, Agora Gallery, New York, New York.
2016 | Rise Up Group Exhibition, NAWA Strathmore Mansion, Bethesda, Maryland.
2015 | Spectrum Solo Exhibition, Salon Simis, Fairfax, Virginia.
2014 | New Members Group Exhibition, The N.A.W.A. Gallery, New York, New York.
2014 | Art in City Hall Group Exhibition, City Hall Alexandria, Virginia.
2014 | Group Exhibitions at the Torpedo Factory: Art Now, Juried by Cory Oberndorfer; Scapes, Juried by Olivia Kohler-Maga; and Abstract Expressionism, Revisited, Juried by Anne Marchand.
SELECTED COLLECTIONSSouthern Methodist University, Pi Beta Phi, Dallas, Texas
The Silva (Adams Morgan), Washington, DC.
The Edge, Bethesda, Maryland
Ninotch, An Urban Retreat, Tysons Corner, Virginia
The Asbury, Charlotte, North Carolina
PRESSJune 2021 White-hot Magazine.
March 2021 Creativ Magazine, Cover and Article
January 2020 Art of the Times Winter 2020 Issue
January 2020 The Washing Post Review of The Words Solo
April 2016 Saatchi Artist of the Week
July 2015 “No.87” Featured in British Vogue, Vogue’s Gallery
May 2015 “Kimono I & II” Featured in Elledecor.com’s House Tour
REPRESENTATIONS & AFFILIATIONSRepresented by: Artful Sol Gallery in Vail, Colorado; Design Supply Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama; Exhibit Art Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Gardner Colby in Naples, Florida; and Huff Harrington Fine Art in Atlanta, Georgia.
The National Association of Women Artists, November 2014 Juried Member