ARTIST TO WATCH
Chris Curtis
A fully mature artist at a critical point of transition makes Chris Curtis a fascinating artist to watch. In April 2018, the Tulsa Botanical Garden in Oklahoma will open a solo exhibition of his work. He is also finishing up sculptures for residential projects in Livermore and San Francisco, California. “I feel like I’m accelerating up the on ramp to the sculpture-making expressway now,” said Curtis. He expanded his Barre studio to accommodate larger stone works and is focusing his Stowe studio on metal fabrication. And he has embraced technology with the acquisition of a 3D printer which will allow him to design and print concepts immediately. “I plan to print more study models and to continue to use the machine and CAD software (computer-aided design) to explore design possibilities,” said the artist. Curtis is a living Vermont treasure. We can’t wait to see what he does next.
“Artists to Watch 2018” is a survey of contemporary Vermont artists that appears as special features in Vermont Art Guide #6 and #7 and in a two-part exhibition at the Vermont Arts Council.
ABOUT ARTISTS TO WATCH | GET THE MAGAZINE | EXHIBITION DETAILS
Each issue of Vermont Art Guide has over a hundred places to see art around the state. The full-color, printed magazine has artist and venue profiles as well as articles and news about Vermont Art. Our goal is to document and share the state’s incredible art scene. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Large-scale works in steel shows his ability to create dynamic, expressive shapes that continue themes of contemplation and dialogue that extend throughout his body of sculptural work.
Stowe native Christopher Curtis attended the University of Vermont where he was influenced by teacher and friend, Paul Aschenbach, who stressed continuous output as a key to constant improvement. Curtis practices this by creating, on average, about a dozen large sculptures per year at his studios in Stowe and Barre. Curtis was a founding partner, with Tari Swenson, of West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park in Stowe. More information about Curtis and his work is at www.christophercurtis.com.
Curtis’ solo exhibition, “Lifting the Landscape”, runs through August 26, 2018 at the Tulsa Botanic Gardens in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The first sculpture exhibit at the gardens, the exhibit has 6 of Curtis’ sculptures at venues along the Lakeside Promenade. Curtis will also be one of three featured speakers at The Botanical Symposium on Saturday, April 14. Pieces in the exhibit are available for sale with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Botanic Garden. Learn more at the Tulsa Botanic Gardens website.
“Artists to Watch 2018” is a survey of contemporary Vermont artists that appears as special features in Vermont Art Guide #6 and #7 and in a two-part exhibition at the Vermont Arts Council.
ABOUT ARTISTS TO WATCH | GET THE MAGAZINE | EXHIBITION DETAILS
Each issue of Vermont Art Guide has over a hundred places to see art around the state. The full-color, printed magazine has artist and venue profiles as well as articles and news about Vermont Art. Our goal is to document and share the state’s incredible art scene. SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Images by Chris Curtis (top to bottom):
Message from the Future (102”x70”x62”; quartzite; 2013)
Zipper (48″x38″x24; granite)
Images courtesy of the artist.