I always use figures in my paintings. I use them to challenge the preconceptions we have about people due to media stereotyping. The paintings are concerned with identity, class, race, gender and the environment. This narrative is an essential element in my work, without a narrative I lose interest. I am however also concerned with the language of paint and the abstract nature of the process.
I am
Qualifications and training:
1978 - BA Fine Art, University of Reading, Reading
Solo exhibitions:
2016 The Age of Reason, Beaux Arts, London (solo){C}
2015 Chris Stevens, Laxeiro Museo Municipal Ramon Ma Aller, Lalin, Spain (solo)
2012 - Context, Roaves & Roams, Reading
2007 - Chris Stevens, Galerie Rademaker, Amsterdam
2006 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Rotterdam
2005 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
2003 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam
2001 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
2000 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam
1999 - Chris Stevens, PM Gallery, London
1998 - Chris Stevens, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton
1997 - Chris Stevens, Black Bull Gallery, London
1997 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
1995 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
1995 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton
1994 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
1993 - Chris Stevens Recent Work, Southampton Arts Centre, Southampton
1991 - Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
1990 - Chris Stevens, Sue Williams Gallery, London
1988 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Black Bull Gallery, London
1988 - Elective Affinities, Sue Williams Gallery, London
1985 - Chris Stevens at Roker Park, Glynn Vivian Museum & Art Gallery, Swansea
1985 - Mayday Britain, Conduit Galleries, London
1985 - New Work, Howard Gardens Gallery, South Glamorgan Institute of Education, Cardiff
1985 - Number One, Axiom, Centre For The Arts, Cheltenham
1984 - Chris Stevens at Roker Park, Northern Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Sunderland
1981 - Chris Stevens, South Hill Park, Bracknell
1980 - Chris Stevens Paintings, Axiom, Centre For The Arts, Cheltenham
1980 - Images of Youth, Touring exhibition, Southern Arts region
Group exhibitions:
2015 Contrastes, Galleria Emergentes dst, Braga, Portugal.
2015 El Camino, Hortensia Gallery, London.
2015 The Contemporary Portrait, Thompson’s , London
2915 West, Griffin Gallery, London
2015 REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Painting, The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
2014 Clive Beardsmore collection, Walsall New Art Gallery.
2014 Recent Work, Hortensia Gallery, London
2014 METROESCAPES Laxeiro Museo Municipal Ramon Ma Aller, Lalin, Spain
2014 REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Painting, Sansbury Cetre, Norwich.
2013 - Painted Faces, Saatchi Gallery @ Griffin Gallery, London
2013 - Stars in Your Eyes, The Institute of Physics , London
2012 - 40x40, Riverside Studios, Londn
2012 - 7th Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London
2011 - XIV Interbifep, Galerija Portreta, Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovena
2011 - 40x40, Riverside Studios, London
2011 - Antes Y Ahora, Museo Municipale, Ourense, Spain
2011 - London Lives, Bankside Gallery, London
2011 - X Biennial Painter Laxeiro , Museo Municipal Ramon , Lalin, Spain
2010 - 6th Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London
2010 - Cluster, Stone Gallery, Dublin
2009 - 1984, Kowalsky Gallery, London
2009 - Group exhibition, De Queeste, Brussels
2009 - Winter Exhibition, Stone Gallery, Dublin
2008 - Time, Space & the Other, De Queeste Kunstkamers, Belgium
2007 - Art Auction, The Building Centre, London
2007 - Beyond The Narrative, PM Gallery, London
2007 - Modern Figure, Oisin Gallery, Dublin
2006 - 50 over 50, University of Brighton Gallery, Brighton
2006 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London
2006 - Heads, Flowers East, London
2006 - Miniatuur 06, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Amsterdam
2006 - Open Studios exhibition, Richmond House, Space studios, London
2006 - RAG, Riverside Studios, London
2005 - Miniature, Kyibidou Gallery, Tokyo
2005 - Miniatuur 05, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
2005 - Sven Hoekstra, Frank Dekkers, Rob Van Hoek & Chris Stevens, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Rotterdam
2004 - 35 Jaar, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
2002 - Eidectic, Britart Gallery, London
2002 - Golden, Britart Gallery, London
2002 - Miniature, Raid Projects Gallery, Los Angeles
2002 - Sunday Times, Singer & Friedlander Water Colour Competition, Mall Galleries, London
2001 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London
1999 - KunstRai, Amsterdam, Netherlands
1999 - The Future Famous, The Unicorn Gallery, London
1998 - Ealing Open, PM Gallery, London
1998 - KunstRAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1998 - Miniatures, Smelik & Stokking Galleries, Den Haag
1997 - Fabulous Transgressions, Reg Vardy Gallery, University of Sunderland
1996 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
1996 - First Sight, PM Gallery, London
1995 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
1995 - KunstRAI, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1995 - Whitechapel Open Studios, Deborah House, London
1993 - Drawings of Distinction, Metropolitan Wharf, London
1992 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
1991 - Face Values, Quicksilver Gallery, Middlesex University, London
1991 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London
1991 - Modern Life, Black Bull Gallery, London
1991 - Seven City Artists, Tobacco Dock, London
1991 - Whitechapel Open Studios, Deborah House, London
1990 - Black Bull Artists, Black Bull Gallery, London
1990 - BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
1990 - Fussball In Der Kunst, Pfalzgalerie, Kaiserlautern, Germany
1990 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London
1989 - Critics Choice 5, Air Gallery, London
1989 - Fussball In Der Kunst, Leopold-Hoersc Museum, Doren, Germany
1989 - International Contemporary Art Fair, Sue Williams Gallery, London
1988 - The Maginot Line, Riverside Studios, London
1986 - Artists In Industry, touring exhibition, West Midlands Arts region
1986 - Beyond Appearance, Touring exhibition, Southern Arts region
1986 - John Player Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London
1986 - The Spirit of London, Mall Galleries, London
1986 - The Spirit of London, Royal Festival Hall, London
1985 - Art at Work, Carlisle Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle
1985 - Art at Work, South London Gallery, London
1985 - Axiom Review, Axiom Centre for the Arts, Cheltenham
1984 - Works on Paper, Henry Art Gallery, Seattle, USA
1983 - Art at Work, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
1983 - The River Wear Exhibition, Northern Centre for the Contemporary Arts, Sunderland
1977 - New Contemporaries, Royal Academy, London
Curated projects
2007 - Beyond The Narrative, PM Gallery, London.
2014 - REALITY, Modern & Contemporary Paintng, Sainsbury Centre, Norwich
Residencies
1985 - West Midlands Arts Residency, Birmingham International Airport, Birmingham
1984 - Arts Council Artist in Residence, Sunderland Football Club.
commissions
2006 - Paintings, Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya
1989 - Series of paintings, Scenes From The Class Struggle In Beverly Hills, North Street Films, Los Angeles
Competitions, prizes and awards
2013 Painted Faces, Saaatchi Art.
2006 - 50 over 50 winner, University of Brighton Gallery, Brighton
1990 - BP Portrait Award Prizewinner, National Portrait Gallery, London
1985 - Artist as Printmaker Award, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, London
1982 - Award, For Painting, South West Arts
1981 - Award, For Painting, Southern Arts
