Untitled (Cityscape 1)

Oil on Birch, 60 x 48, 2024

Chris Lukas Maier (They/Them), BFA, Visual Studies, 4th Year

Artwork Description: Chris Lukas Maier’s paintings take inspiration from the spontaneity, vibrancy, and movement that exist within the textures of walls that are otherwise forgotten. The often disregarded marks they choose to replicate tell the collective stories of people that live within urban spaces. Maier emphasizes the idea that the spontaneous marks left in urban areas are as ephemeral, and important as the collective lives and stories of the people who knowingly, or unknowingly create them. Maier is Inspired by the calligraphic spontaneity of Informalism and the clinically segmented structure of Minimalism. The gestural application of elliptical scratches and gradual buildup of layers and textures in this body of work imply the ephemerality of urban marks and stories in relation to the evanescent passage of time.

Artist's Bio: Chris recently graduated with a BFA in Visual Studies with First Class Honours at the University of Calgary. They specialize in painting and mixed media work. Chris has given art history lectures at the University of Calgary and exhibited work in local public institutions, including Contemporary Calgary, The Nickle Galleries, and the NVRLND Arts Foundation. Recently, they had two works chosen by the City of Calgary to be part of the Bus Rapid Transit Shelter artwork program. In 2023, they received the Kathleen and Russell Lane Canadian Art Award. They were most recently in 4 person group show at the Nickle Galleries titled “Spaces Becoming Form.”

Artist's statement: Chris Lukas Maier’s paintings take inspiration from the spontaneity, vibrancy, and movement that exist within the textures of walls that are otherwise forgotten. They often disregarded marks Maier chooses to replicate stand as reminders of the collective stories of people that live within urban spaces. Maier is inspired by the calligraphic spontaneity of Informalism and the clinically segmented structure of Minimalism. The gestural application of elliptical scratches and gradual buildup of layers and textures in this body of work imply the ephemerality of urban marks and stories in relation to the evanescent passage of time.

Artist's contact info: chrislukasmaier@gmail.com