Christopher Russell
American, 1961
Christopher Russell, a New York City artist with a career spanning over 30 years, has dedicated himself to creating unique works of art, functional designs, custom architectural elements, and large-scale commissions. His exploration of clay, his principal medium, has evolved from painting and drawing to decorative graphic tiles and hand-built sculpture, culminating in his latest focus on decorative vessels.
Russell's recent works exhibit dynamic structures and vibrant surface ornamentation. His hand-built vessels, influenced by a familial connection to architecture and engineering, eschew traditional pottery techniques in favor of a spontaneous process focused on harmony and balance.
Noteworthy in Russell's recent pieces is his energetic surface ornamentation. Employing a combination of black and white underglazes and colored glazes, he creates cubist patterns reminiscent of pictographs. The use of stencil resists and decorative sgraffito adds depth to the works.
Texture plays a vital role in Russell's ceramics, with each surface featuring competing textures that invite touch and exploration. Despite meticulous planning, Russell embraces the unpredictable nature of the kiln, making each work a risky yet rewarding venture.
Russell's works have been featured in solo shows at prestigious institutions such as the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY, and the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art in Sedalie, WI. His pieces are also part of notable collections, including Longhouse Reserve: The Jack Lernor Larsen Estate. His commissions, like the ceramic wall mural for NYU Langone Hospital and the cast bronze gates for the Ninth Avenue subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, highlight his versatility and craftsmanship.
Russell's recent works exhibit dynamic structures and vibrant surface ornamentation. His hand-built vessels, influenced by a familial connection to architecture and engineering, eschew traditional pottery techniques in favor of a spontaneous process focused on harmony and balance.
Noteworthy in Russell's recent pieces is his energetic surface ornamentation. Employing a combination of black and white underglazes and colored glazes, he creates cubist patterns reminiscent of pictographs. The use of stencil resists and decorative sgraffito adds depth to the works.
Texture plays a vital role in Russell's ceramics, with each surface featuring competing textures that invite touch and exploration. Despite meticulous planning, Russell embraces the unpredictable nature of the kiln, making each work a risky yet rewarding venture.
Russell's works have been featured in solo shows at prestigious institutions such as the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY, and the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art in Sedalie, WI. His pieces are also part of notable collections, including Longhouse Reserve: The Jack Lernor Larsen Estate. His commissions, like the ceramic wall mural for NYU Langone Hospital and the cast bronze gates for the Ninth Avenue subway station in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, highlight his versatility and craftsmanship.
Customizable
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