Chris Martin    Jan 26 - Mar 1, 2008

Martin’s paintings are investigations in color, form and texture, ranging from bold and graphic to gestural and expressionistic. Their surfaces are often distressed or collaged with elements including shellacked Wonder Bread, broken vinyl records and papier mâché forms. Martin is deeply engaged with the history of abstraction, and many of his own paintings incorporate homages to artistic influences such as Paul Feeley, Yayoi Kusama and Alfred Jensen. Martin has described his art as “turning up the volume” of painting and many of his works refer to musicians including Miles Davis, John Coltrane and the “Godfather of Soul” James Brown.

Chris Martin was born in 1954 and lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. He received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts and attended Yale University. Recent shows include a solo exhibition at Daniel Weinberg Gallery, Los Angeles and “The Painted World” at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Long Island City, New York. Martin has been in group shows at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum and the Denver Art Museum. He is represented by Mitchell-Innes & Nash.