During the pandemic, we have all spent a lot of time out in nature – taking walks and long hikes, and generally meeting in outside venues with others. Through each season, there are things to appreciate while being in nature – the wind blowing through the grasses and trees in summer, the awakening of spring, the colors of fall, the starkness of winter. Through these abstract paintings, I have tried to capture my feelings and impressions of these times.
I have worked differently with these paintings. After applying layers and layers of oil paint, I have carved into the painting with wood carving knives and other tools to achieve the final image. Each painting has its own unique characteristics depending on the dryness of the paint when carved into, the heaviness or lightness of the carving, the number of different colors applied and the tools used.
I try to abandon intention and embrace discovery, allowing the process to reveal what is there. That is when the painting becomes what it wants to be.
I think of all of my work as peaceful and meditative with a sense of mystery. I want the viewer of my art to feel like they can walk into and through my paintings and have a never-ending journey.
Artist Biography
Chris Cox is a Philadelphia-area abstract artist. In 2021, she had two paintings featured in Woodmere Art Museum’s 79th Annual Juried Exhibition and was a featured artist for the Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia’s Virtual Exhibition. In 2020, her series of paintings and sculptures titled, “Spiritual Journey -- A Visual Narrative,” was exhibited as part of Abington Art Center’s 2020 Fall Solo Series.
She was selected to be the featured artist for Bluestone Fine Art Gallery at the inaugural Philadelphia Fine Art Fair held in 2019 and was also one of seven artists featured by Bluestone in the Hamptons Virtual Art Fair in 2020.
In 2018, Chris had three paintings selected for one of the movie sets for the film Creed II. Her work was also selected for Art of the State 2015 and an Invitational Exhibition at the Art Association of Harrisburg.
Chris has had nine solo exhibitions. She also has had many paintings in juried shows, including the Delaware Contemporary, Cerulean Arts, GoggleWorks, Tri-State Artist Equity, PA Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia Sketch Club, Woodmere Art Museum, New Hope Art League, Main Line Art Center, Lancaster County Art Association, Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Center for the Arts and Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists.
Chris received a Juror’s Award at the Main Line Art Center’s 2015 Spring Gala Exhibition and an Honorable Mention Award in 2013 at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Juried CE Student Exhibition.
News articles about the artist and her work have appeared in the Chestnut Hill Local, the Harrisburg Patriot News, Hamptons.com, the PGN, the Art Association of Harrisburg Newsletter and pennlive.com. Chris also co-authored an article that was published in Professional Artist Magazine in 2014. She has been a member of Tri-State Artist Equity and a Professional Artist Member at Main Line Art Center. Chris’ paintings are in private collections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Florida, Michigan, Washington, Rhode Island andAlaska. Her work is also featured on InLiquid.com and Artsy.net.
Her Masters and Bachelor degrees are from Penn State University.
Education
Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, PA MPA, BA
Continuing Education
Woodmere Art Museum Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Main Line Art Center Wayne Art Center
Awards & Honors
Juror’s Award, Spring Gala 2015, Juried Exhibition, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
Honorable Mention Award, CE Student Juried Exhibition 2013, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Bibliography
“Philadelphia-Based Gallery, Bluestone Fine Art Gallery, Joins The Hamptons Virtual Art Fair With Impressive Line-Up of Artists,” Sydney A Braat, Hamptons.com, August 27, 2020
“Virtual Art Fair,” The Chestnut Hill Local, September 3,2020
Lear, Len. "Hill artist featured in major art fair this weekend", The Chestnut Hill Local, Philadelphia, PA, April 4, 2019
"2019 Guide Museums Galleries Artists", Art in America, August 2019
"2018 Guide Museums Galleries Artists", Art in America, August 2018
"2017 Guide Museums Galleries Artists", Art in America, August 2017
"2016 Guide Museumes Galleries Artist", Art in America, August, 2016
