Emerging artist Christopher Barrett will present a solo art show on view at the beachKraft Gallery in Olney, MD, on view February 1 – February 28, 2025.
the beachKraft StudioGallery of Olney will host a Closing Reception for the artist on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 5:00pm-7:00pm.
Christopher Barrett began studying film in Vermont in 2019, but later began to develop a visual language in ink, and then painting in 2023. Painting has since become an increasingly vital part of his life. His process is intuitive, involving little to no planning – beginning with a sketch or just a flashing mental image. Some works take months to complete, others take hours. He stops when they ring true. They are right from the heart: unnameable things that thrill or ail him, often manifested as people or birds engaged in some kind of communion. Acclaimed artist Teresa Oaxaca recognized this quality when she awarded him first place in his category at Kensington’s Labor Day show, describing his work as “visionary”.
Barrett’s work pushes through brain fog to deliver paintings of discomfort, longing and love. For this exhibition, he has specifically created larger works that developed into their own narrative about the way time escapes us and forces change, and the constant manipulation of our inner worlds by forces beyond our control. “It’s hard to wrap your head around what wraps around your head,” Barrett says in describing his process. “There are images that emerge from nowhere which want me to paint them. I say ok. There are images that emerge from painting itself, from the same nowhere, an image latches onto something I’ve started because it recognizes itself in the fetal image.”
The beachKraft Gallery is excited to host Barrett’s work and share his unique vision and content with the community at large.
See Christopher Barrett’s paintings at the gallery, Tuesday through Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM. An closing reception will be held for the artist Saturday February 22nd, 5 PM to 7 PM. Light refreshment will be available to guests and a live DJ will provide music. Artist receptions at the gallery are always free to attend.
The beachKraft StudioGallery of Olney
18200 Georgia Ave. Units O+N
Olney, MD 20832
[email protected]
https://www.thebeachkraft.com/
(240) 608-2124
