Christopher Engel’s art education began at the Art Center College of Design now
located in Pasadena, CA. He later moved to New York and studied at the Art Students League.
While at the League Mr. Engel studied with renowned abstract expressionist painter Richard Pousette Dart. During this time he began creating works depicting the depressing and suffocating elements of the New York subway system (The Turnstyle Series). As a result of working with Richard Pousette Dart the boundaries between objective and non-objective or realistic and abstract work became blurred.
This, Mr. Engel says, allowed him to travel down the sometimes semi-abstract, semi realistic and symbolic path of the Turnstyle Series, which preoccupied him from 1982
until the present.
The series began as a social commentary on the subways and, by extension, the conditions in society in general. As the work progressed over the years it became more abstracted, symbolic and personal.
In 1982 Christopher was invited by Roger Denis, curator at the well known Hallways
Gallery in Buffalo, to have a solo show of personal autobiographic works called "Rights of Pssage".
This consisted of a series of 37 pastels on sandpaper based on emotionally charged moments from his childhood. They were executed in
1979-1980 in a primitive style with titles structured in a narrative sequence.
In the 80’s Mr. Engel showed in the East Village during the heydays of the art scene there. During this time he maintained studios in Manhattan and Hoboken, NJ.
In Hoboken he participated in the one night shows and discussions at the alternative space Fourwalls.
Later in the decade he left New York for two years to live in Seattle, Washington.
While
there he had solo shows and participated in group shows.
In October 1987 he was represented at the New York Print Fair by Eldindean Press.
The following July he exhibited a suite of etchings at the Hundredwaters Gallery in Seattle.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s he executed a series of 17 bronze pieces related to the paintings and etchings from the Turnstyle Series.
In response to a proposal for a show 1994 Mr. Engel was invited a second time to show
at Hallwalls. This became a group show based on his proposal for a show based on his works dealing with economic statistics.
The show, called “Men in Suits”
featured works by artists who work with similar economic, political and social agendas.
Christopher is concurrently developed a website focusing on the same material
which, today, is more relevant than ever. The web address for this graphic and informative work in progress is:
http://www.gettoknowyourceo.com.
The website is still a work in progress.
Along with his other interests in 1995 Christopher Engel began a monumental tribute to Vincent van Gogh. He created (and later distributed) a CDrom entitled “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart.” The CDrom contains more than 4 hours of spoken excerpts
from Vincent’s letters to Theo and correlates his actual works with his words. The audio
excerpts illustrate van Gogh’s deepest feelings about art and the world around him. Through interactive devices the CDrom reveals Vincent’s theory on color, his palette, perspective and his working methods with the click of the mouse. The CDrom’s audio
is taken from over 300 letters which cover the 10 years of his life as an artist. It contains over 900 paintings and drawings and over 100 photographs.
Since 2003 “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart” was sold at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for about 5 years until it nolonger kept up with current computering operating systems. A complete description of the CDrom can be found at:
http://www.vangoghinteractive.com.
An audio book on CD is still available.
After completing the CDrom project Mr. Engel was able to return to painting full time in
the early 2000’s.
This new period culminated in the Fan Project.
More recently Mr. Engel has been focusing on abstract works containg elements from
and references to the lanscape which surrounds him at his studio in upstate New York.
Mr Engel has work in the collections inb the US and abroad.
His paintings, etchings and bronzes
are represented in various public and private collections in the US and abroad.
Christopher Engel’s art education began at the Art Center College of Design now
located in Pasadena, CA. He later moved to New York and studied at the Art Students League.
While at the League Mr. Engel studied with renowned abstract expressionist painter Richard Pousette Dart. During this time he began creating works depicting the depressing and suffocating elements of the New York subway system (The Turnstyle Series). As a result of working with Richard Pousette Dart the boundaries between objective and non-objective or realistic and abstract work became blurred.
This, Mr. Engel says, allowed him to travel down the sometimes semi-abstract, semi realistic and symbolic path of the Turnstyle Series, which preoccupied him from 1982
until the present.
The series began as a social commentary on the subways and, by extension, the conditions in society in general. As the work progressed over the years it became more abstracted, symbolic and personal.
In 1982 Christopher was invited by Roger Denis, curator at the well known Hallways
Gallery in Buffalo, to have a solo show of personal autobiographic works called "Rights of Pssage".
This consisted of a series of 37 pastels on sandpaper based on emotionally charged moments from his childhood. They were executed in
1979-1980 in a primitive style with titles structured in a narrative sequence.
In the 80’s Mr. Engel showed in the East Village during the heydays of the art scene there. During this time he maintained studios in Manhattan and Hoboken, NJ.
In Hoboken he participated in the one night shows and discussions at the alternative space Fourwalls.
Later in the decade he left New York for two years to live in Seattle, Washington.
While
there he had solo shows and participated in group shows.
In October 1987 he was represented at the New York Print Fair by Eldindean Press.
The following July he exhibited a suite of etchings at the Hundredwaters Gallery in Seattle.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s he executed a series of 17 bronze pieces related to the paintings and etchings from the Turnstyle Series.
In response to a proposal for a show 1994 Mr. Engel was invited a second time to show
at Hallwalls. This became a group show based on his proposal for a show based on his works dealing with economic statistics.
The show, called “Men in Suits”
featured works by artists who work with similar economic, political and social agendas.
Christopher is concurrently developed a website focusing on the same material
which, today, is more relevant than ever. The web address for this graphic and informative work in progress is:
http://www.gettoknowyourceo.com.
The website is still a work in progress.
Along with his other interests in 1995 Christopher Engel began a monumental tribute to Vincent van Gogh. He created (and later distributed) a CDrom entitled “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart.” The CDrom contains more than 4 hours of spoken excerpts
from Vincent’s letters to Theo and correlates his actual works with his words. The audio
excerpts illustrate van Gogh’s deepest feelings about art and the world around him. Through interactive devices the CDrom reveals Vincent’s theory on color, his palette, perspective and his working methods with the click of the mouse. The CDrom’s audio
is taken from over 300 letters which cover the 10 years of his life as an artist. It contains over 900 paintings and drawings and over 100 photographs.
Since 2003 “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart” was sold at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for about 5 years until it nolonger kept up with current computering operating systems. A complete description of the CDrom can be found at:
http://www.vangoghinteractive.com.
An audio book on CD is still available.
After completing the CDrom project Mr. Engel was able to return to painting full time in
the early 2000’s.
This new period culminated in the Fan Project.
More recently Mr. Engel has been focusing on abstract works containg elements from
and references to the lanscape which surrounds him at his studio in upstate New York.
Mr Engel has work in the collections inb the US and abroad.
His paintings, etchings and bronzes
are represented in various public and private collections in the US and abroad.
Christopher Engel’s art education began at the Art Center College of Design now
located in Pasadena, CA. He later moved to New York and studied at the Art Students League.
While at the League Mr. Engel studied with renowned abstract expressionist painter Richard Pousette Dart. During this time he began creating works depicting the depressing and suffocating elements of the New York subway system (The Turnstyle Series). As a result of working with Richard Pousette Dart the boundaries between objective and non-objective or realistic and abstract work became blurred.
This, Mr. Engel says, allowed him to travel down the sometimes semi-abstract, semi realistic and symbolic path of the Turnstyle Series, which preoccupied him from 1982
until the present.
The series began as a social commentary on the subways and, by extension, the conditions in society in general. As the work progressed over the years it became more abstracted, symbolic and personal.
In 1982 Christopher was invited by Roger Denis, curator at the well known Hallways
Gallery in Buffalo, to have a solo show of personal autobiographic works called "Rights of Pssage".
This consisted of a series of 37 pastels on sandpaper based on emotionally charged moments from his childhood. They were executed in
1979-1980 in a primitive style with titles structured in a narrative sequence.
In the 80’s Mr. Engel showed in the East Village during the heydays of the art scene there. During this time he maintained studios in Manhattan and Hoboken, NJ.
In Hoboken he participated in the one night shows and discussions at the alternative space Fourwalls.
Later in the decade he left New York for two years to live in Seattle, Washington.
While
there he had solo shows and participated in group shows.
In October 1987 he was represented at the New York Print Fair by Eldindean Press.
The following July he exhibited a suite of etchings at the Hundredwaters Gallery in Seattle.
In the late 80’s and early 90’s he executed a series of 17 bronze pieces related to the paintings and etchings from the Turnstyle Series.
In response to a proposal for a show 1994 Mr. Engel was invited a second time to show
at Hallwalls. This became a group show based on his proposal for a show based on his works dealing with economic statistics.
The show, called “Men in Suits”
featured works by artists who work with similar economic, political and social agendas.
Christopher is concurrently developed a website focusing on the same material
which, today, is more relevant than ever. The web address for this graphic and informative work in progress is:
http://www.gettoknowyourceo.com.
Along with his other interests in 1995 Christopher Engel began a monumental tribute to Vincent van Gogh. He created (and later distributed) a CDrom entitled “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart.” The CDrom contains more than 4 hours of spoken excerpts
from Vincent’s letters to Theo and correlates his actual works with his words. The audio
excerpts illustrate van Gogh’s deepest feelings about art and the world around him. Through interactive devices the CDrom reveals Vincent’s theory on color, his palette, perspective and his working methods with the click of the mouse. The CDrom’s audio
is taken from over 300 letters which cover the 10 years of his life as an artist. It contains over 900 paintings and drawings and over 100 photographs.
Since 2003 “Vincent van Gogh: Straight from the Heart” was sold at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for about 5 years until it nolonger kept up with current computering operating systems. A complete description of the CDrom can be found at: http://www.vangoghinteractive.com.
An audio book on CD is still available.
After completing the CDrom project Mr. Engel was able to return to painting full time in
the early 2000’s.
This new period culminated in the Fan Project.
More recently Mr. Engel has been focusing on abstract works containg elements from
and references to the lanscape which surrounds him at his studio in upstate New York.
Mr Engel has work in the collections inb the US and abroad.
His paintings, etchings and bronzes
are represented in various public and private collections in the US and abroad.