Blank Media Collective

Resume

Biography / Personal Statement

My practice is concerned with obsessional mark making, with issues of time, the fight to cover or not to cover the entire working surface and the permanence/impermanence of the image. 

I am investigating the thought that we leave a residue everywhere we go, in our actions/inactions and in our thoughts. This thought process is not always evident in the pictures I draw but is a necessity in creating them.

I build the images up in fragmented layers, much like a broken mirror, to achieve an organic and chaotic feeling - which is in conflict with the orderly and precise nature of the detail. This echoes many of today’s hectic yet rigidly structured lifestyles. 

I draw with an architectural pen, the nib of which is one-tenth the size of a regular biro pen- the monotony of constant mark making with such an implement allows for total immersion into the image. I do my day dreaming through drawing.

I feel share similarities to my work come from the 19th Century Outsider Artists Augustin Lesage, Adolf Wolfli and Madge Gill who created alternate worlds within their drawings to escape the hardship of their reality. Whilst I have no desire to escape my lifestyle, I rigidly set aside uninterrupted 10 hourly drawing sessions throughout the night in a compulsive attempt to cover every part of the surface.

This compulsion has drawn comparisons with Horror Vacui- an obsession to completely cover and remove any “voids” from the surface upon which I draw. I find my later works challenging this obsession, almost daring myself to leave empty spaces and taunting me to complete them throughout the night. 

This year I will be making further works for solo exhibitions in Manchester’s Cornerhouse Gallery, UK , as well as two international exhibitions in Chicago, USA, and Gdansk in Poland. I hope to extend my practice into ceramic forms after selling my first ceramic piece at the British Ceramic Biennial.

I am actively seeking exhibition opportunities and welcome correspondence 

www.christopherguest.tumblr.com

Exhibitions & Shows

  • Solo Show
  • Cornerhouse, Manchester, UK
  • July 2010 - August 2010
  • Solo Show

Forthcoming exhibition of original drawing and ceramic forms Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Solo Show
  • Gdansk Gallery, Gdansk, Poland
  • July 2010 - August 2010
  • Solo Show

Forthcoming exhibition of limited edition prints and ceramic forms Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Hands Out
  • Album Artwork for Gringo Records
  • June 2010 - Ongoing
  • Solo Show

Album artwork for Gringo Records band OX Scapula, available in music shops nationwide

  • Biale / Czarne
  • Gdansk Gallery, Gdansk, Poland
  • May 2010 - June 2010
  • Group Show

Headlining international collection of artists, showing a series of black and white drawings. Biale/Czarne means White/Black Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Birds of a Feather
  • SWIM Gallery, Chicago, USA
  • April 2010 - June 2010
  • Group Show

Showing a collection of large format limited edition prints Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Interview about current practice
  • Creative Boom Magazine
  • April 2010 - Ongoing
  • Solo Show

An interview about my practice and arts company Read it here: http://www.creativeboom.co.uk/features/interview-christopher-guest-freelancer-artist/

  • Winner of National design competition
  • Creative Boom Magazine
  • April 2010 - April 2010
  • Solo Show

1st place in a national design competition voted for by artists and creatives

  • Fine Lines
  • Repertory Theatre, Stoke on Trent, UK
  • April 2010 - May 2010
  • Solo Show

Solo exhibition showing a collection of obsessive drawings and mark making Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Barewall
  • Bare Wall Gallery, UK
  • February 2010 - March 2010
  • Solo Show

Solo exhibition showing silk screened prints, original drawings and pin badges Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • Patagonia
  • Moon Rocks Magazine, USA
  • February issue - February issue
  • Solo Show

Published artwork

  • Live
  • Private Commission, UK
  • November 2009 - November 2009
  • Solo Show

Privately commissioned drawing for Michelin-star restaurant

  • Luna
  • Ceramica, UK
  • October 2009 - November 2009
  • Group Show

British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) Showing ceramic forms

  • Little BIG Art
  • Newcastle Under Lyme Art Gallery & Museum, UK
  • September 2009 - October 2009
  • Group Show

Showing selected works no bigger than A5

  • Unsteady Hands
  • BSA Gallery, Staffordshire, UK
  • July 2009 - August 2009
  • Solo Show

Solo show of new works, ceramic forms, screen prints and pin badges Visit www.christopherguest.tumblr.com for images

  • UNtitled
  • Artists and Their Art Magazine, USA
  • June 2009 - July 2009
  • Group Show

Selected works published in American arts newspaper

  • Circles
  • Private Commission, UK
  • May 2009 - May 2009
  • Solo Show

Private commission of highly detailed circular drawing

  • Patagonia
  • Private Commission, Argentina
  • February 2009 - February 2009
  • Solo Show

Private commission for Department of Culture, Patagonia, Argentina as part of a cross-cultural celebration

  • The Elephant Massacres
  • Private Commission, Tokyo, Japan
  • February 2009 - February 2009
  • Solo Show

Large format poster commission for music festival in Japan

  • Space Homies
  • Retailed at Custard Factory shops, UK
  • February 2009 - April 2010
  • Solo Show

Screen printed tote bags retailed at fashion outlet in Custard Factory in Birmingham

  • Monument
  • Private Commission, Genoa, Italy
  • January 2009 - January 2009
  • Solo Show

Private commission of large format, highly detailed drawing using spray paint and pen & ink.

Experience

  • Creative Director
  • Creative Arts North Staffs
  • 2007 - Ongoing
  • Staffordshire UK

I am Creative Director at Creative Arts North Staffs, an arts company creating public art in deprived areas. www.creativeartsnorthstaffs.co.uk (in construction)

Education

  • BA & MA Fine Art
  • Staffordshire University
  • United Kingdom
  • 1999 - 2004

Masters Degree in Fine Art Bachelors Degree in Fine Art

Further Info

You can view my current works at http://www.christopherguest.tumblr.com

I am currently seeking exhibitions (solo and group) collaborations and publications.