Chris Tanner
April 4 - May 5, 2023
Curated by Jimi Dams
New York, NY, April 4, 2024 – La MaMa Galleria is honored to present the solo exhibition for artist Chris Tanner: “Glittering Monsters”, on Thursday, May 5th. The exhibition will be on view through May 5th.
Chris Tanner is a gay artist and performer. He is best known for his assemblages made from glitter, paillettes, jewels, sterling silver leaf and found objects. Tanner was born in Duarte, California and studied art at the San Francisco Academy of Art and the California Institute for the arts. He is an accomplished performer and playwright in addition to his work as an artist. He has been exhibited in numerous solo exhibitions including; Howl! Happening Gallery, La MaMa La Galleria, Pavel Zoubok Gallery, Bridgewater/ Lustberg Gallery and The Kitchen in New York, NY. Atrium Gallery in St. Louis, MO, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Boulder, CO, Flatland Gallery in Utrecht, Holland and Gallery Oz in Paris, France. Tanner's work has also been included in numerous group exhibitions all over the world including; CHANEL, The National Arts Club and Young Robertson Gallery in New York, NY. Rupert Ravens Contemporary in Newark, NJ, Mulry Fine Art in West Palm Beach FL and Galerie Hof&Huyser in Amsterdam, Holland. He was a resident of the Yaddo Artist Residency Program and the New York Public Library in 2009. Tanner is a recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant and the 2018 Acker Award. His works are held in numerous collections including those of; Michael Bloomberg, Willie Brown, Cyndi Lauper, David Lynch, Karen Finley, Jamie Drake, Richard Sinnott, Randy Tate, Judy Peabody, Joan Rivers and the estate of Holly Solomon. He has been featured in ‘The New York Times,' ‘Art in America' 3 times, ‘Harpers Bazzarr', the cover and center-fold of ‘Women's Wear Daily', ‘Elle Decor‘, ‘Arts and Antiques and ‘The New York Observer.' Tanner currently lives and works in New York.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
My work is a celebration of beauty and remembrance, expressed through all that sparkles, shimmers, or flickers. I am a magpie, covering surfaces with glitter, paillettes, jewels, sterling silver leaf, and found objects that clash, crash, and finally cohere, creating a glamorous order out of chaos. This process embodies layers of meaning: the magnificence of a powerful feminine; cascading, dream-like impulses of shame, desire, ecstasy; defiant optimism in dark times.The ever-changing light in my ornamental assemblages creates a vibrant dialogue with the viewer. I capture moments in time wherein beauty stands unabashed, throwing light and love into our
Image: Chris Tanner, The Birds Told Me Your Lies | La MaMa Galleria | Fall, 2023
For press inquiries, images and interview request, please contact the gallery at
lamamagalleria@gmail.com
Chris Tanner, Venus, 2020; mixed media on canvas; 48 x 3 x 72 in
