Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Rico.
Hi Christopher, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began drawing from an early age. As an only child, I developed a rich inner world, and drawing helped me connect to what I would call the outer world. I had no roadmap for nor examples of artists growing up. I was raised in a strict, fundamentalist denomination of Christianity, which rejected all imagery and music. As a child, I didn’t understand what was missing in the religion imposed on me; I knew it didn’t sufficiently answer the immense, burning questions inside me, questions I came to understand much later that had already been asked by Gauguin a century before me. I wandered through my 20s, lost, constantly feeling something was missing but unable to understand it. When I found art, things began to come into focus for me. I no longer felt lost or crazy. I started to accept that I had a unique way of seeing the world and was responsible for attempting to communicate it. I don’t remember an exact lightning bolt moment, but it felt like a calling that I had never experienced. Of course, I didn’t know how to do it; I stumbled through it until I found my way. I made the road by walking. I began to travel to NYC regularly, attending friends’ exhibitions and, eventually, my own. It was a very meandering path, organic rather than directed, though with intentionality.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, not at all. When I first began painting, the art world declared painting dead. Never mind that in addition to choosing a “dead” medium, my work was very spiritual, which further went against the grain of popular culture. Art isn’t an easy path. One has to find a place to put rejection, for one thing. It can be hard to constantly hear “no” or, worse, be ignored altogether. I’ve had huge studios, I’ve had small ones. I’ve struggled to make rent and made a year’s rent in a day, so being able to roll with uncertainty is essential. I would tell anyone embarking on this path to decide if you have to do it. If you do, the path will at least be clear, if not always easy. It’s not for everyone. It can sometimes be brutal, but I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. That’s what always carries me through the hard times.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an abstract painter, specifically gestural abstraction. I bring elements of Japanese calligraphy into the work because I use gigantic brushes to create powerful marks. I’m best known for that style, and even when those gestures are not at the forefront of the compositions, the ethos remains. I’ve exhibited in NYC, New Orleans, Memphis, Texas, California, and abroad in the UK and Germany. I’ve also designed sets for the theatre and collaborated with modern dance companies. I’ve done residencies in Brooklyn and upstate NY, produced some short films, and even published in an academic journal. If I’m proud of anything, it’s my tenacity. I keep going, I keep making. I don’t see an end in sight even though I am no longer young. That could be part of what sets me apart. I genuinely love connecting with people about my work and seeing it through their eyes if they take the time to see it.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I live in Greenville, SC. It’s a small city that has gotten much attention over the last decade. I’m fortunate to have a studio in a former church building with 11 other artists. Strong artists’ communities are here, and an authentic, refined art culture is finally emerging. This area has deep roots in craft and decorative arts, and it’s nice to see a more rich aesthetic being developed, along with galleries popping up. We are almost halfway between Charlotte and Atlanta, which makes travel easy. Greenville sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains so that it can be quite lovely. As with any emerging city, traffic is becoming worse. The local population needs to get used to it, and people lose their tempers and make terrible decisions in traffic. There needs to be infrastructure for pedestrians or effective mass transit, and while excellent trails surround the city, they are not a practical alternative to cars. But these things are minor irritations. I can be at my studio in under 10 minutes from my house, so I really can’t complain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christopherrico.com
- Instagram: @christopherricoartist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherricoartist/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristopherRico
- Other: https://christopherrico.substack.com
