Chris, a native of Big Cabin, Oklahoma, now based in Tulsa, returned to his home state after nearly two decades in Seattle. His journey reflects resilience and creative evolution. He studied painting and sculpture at Rogers State University before moving to Seattle, where he quickly realized he couldn’t afford both living expenses and school. Joining the Air Force allowed him to continue his education while exploring different career paths. Having grown up helping his dad work on cars, he saw auto mechanics as a potential long-term career—until physical injuries brought that to an end. Forced to pursue a less physically demanding job, he applied to the graphic design program at Seattle Central Creative Academy, where he developed a strong visual sensibility and a deeper understanding of his creative process.
Two contrasting voices define Chris’s artistic practice. One is sharp, graphic, and illustrative, characterized by bold lines and vivid colors inspired by cartoons and graffiti. These works convey energy and clarity through a visual language rooted in design. The other side of his work is abstract and tactile, emphasizing texture, layering, and experimentation. These pieces often emerge intuitively, embracing rawness and imperfection reminiscent of graffiti’s unrefined edge.
After a five-year hiatus from painting while working exclusively in digital media, Chris returned to physical materials following his move back to Tulsa. This renewed exploration began with a solo show and a desire to create looser, more expressive work. Drawing on a grid-based typographic style he had developed digitally, he initially experimented with mops and larger brushes to bring this structured style into his paintings.
His Remnants series emerged from this period. When two large works titled “Rage” and “Hope” no longer fit in his new studio, Chris repurposed them, cutting them up and reassembling the fragments into sculptural forms. Each piece in the series became a new challenge, incorporating different fill materials and mounting techniques. The process of construction and the element of unpredictability reinvigorated his practice.
This series marked a turning point: Chris realized he was finally creating the kind of work he had always admired—art that’s both constructed and expressive, structured yet spontaneous. Through this hands-on process, he reconnected with the joy of making, embracing imperfection and discovery as central elements of his creative identity.