In the world of contemporary art, innovation and boundary-pushing creativity are the keys to leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of history. Christina Quarles, a rising star in the art scene, has not only achieved this but has also redefined conventional notions of identity, sexuality, and perspective through her striking and thought-provoking artworks.
Born in Chicago in 1985, Christina Quarles’ journey to artistic prominence is nothing short of inspiring. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College in 2007 and her Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art in 2016. These formative years of study set the stage for her distinctive artistic approach.
What sets Christina Quarles apart is her ability to merge abstraction and figuration seamlessly. Her works often feature intertwined bodies in fluid, ambiguous poses, challenging the viewer’s perception of gender, race, and sexuality. Quarles’ bold and vibrant use of color further enhances the complexity of her compositions, creating a dynamic visual experience that engages the audience on multiple levels.
One of her most notable series, “Dwellings,” delves into themes of domesticity, belonging, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Through her use of entangled forms and energetic brushwork, Quarles explores the fluidity of identity and the fluidity of her characters’ bodies, blurring the lines between intimacy and alienation.
Her art is a reflection of her own mixed-race identity and a means of addressing the intricacies of the human experience in an ever-evolving world. Quarles’ work challenges viewers to confront their own preconceptions, inviting them to consider the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in an increasingly diverse society.
Christina Quarles has rapidly gained recognition in the art world, with her work featured in prestigious exhibitions and collections worldwide. She received the Rema Hort Mann Foundation’s Emerging Artist Grant in 2017 and was named one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in the Art & Style category in 2020.
Christina Quarles’s first institutional solo exhibition in Germany, Collapsed Time, features paintings and works on paper by Quarles from 2016 onwards, as well as a large-scale painting installation created for the show.
The artist has developed a site-specific architectural intervention that occupies the entire exhibition space: gauze panels divide the rooms, similar to translucent theatre scrims used to reveal and obscure actors and objects. The exhibition runs March 23 – September 17, 2023.
As her star continues to rise, Christina Quarles remains at the forefront of contemporary art, pushing boundaries and breaking down barriers with her thought-provoking and visually captivating creations. Her ability to challenge societal norms and explore the complexity of human identity through her art makes her a trailblazing force in the ever-evolving world of contemporary art. Christina Quarles is an artist to watch, a visionary who is reshaping the way we perceive and interact with the art of our time.
Photos and artwork courtesy of Christina Quarles. Portrait courtesy of Daniel Dorsa, Courtesy Regen Projects, Los Angeles and Pilar Corrias, London. All rights reserved.