'Isolation/Meridian 1' by Christopher Kurtz
'Isolation/Meridian 1' by Christopher Kurtz
Isolation/Meridian 1, 2022, from Isolation Meridian series by Christopher Kurtz.
Hand carved linden wood, gofun paint and glass H.8 x W. 8 x D.8. Letter of Authenticity.
“All three of these pieces were made while I was in isolation with Covid and are meditations on the exhibition theme of Art+Nature+Home. These types of wood carving pieces are a well worn language for me— but this new series enclosed in these glass bell jars they remind me of capturing insects as a kid and examining them. These abstract, yet somewhat figurative sculptures seem to reflect the current temperature of todays culture; suspicious of the dangers inside and outside of our so called bubbles, constantly testing and examining ourselves.” — Christopher Kurtz
Christopher Kurtz (b.1975) is best known for his extensive exploration in wood sculpture and furniture design. His works range from needle-like star burst constellations, as seen in his ambitious installations in the United Kingdom or at Design Miami/Basel; to employing medieval drapery carving as a source of inspiration in Linenfold Armoire as part of R&Co’s groundbreaking exhibition OBJECTS: USA 2020, where Kurtz is described by New York’s Museum of Arts and Design as “one of the most impactful contemporary artists working today”. Upcoming exhibitions and fairs include Masterpiece London, PAD London, Design Miami, a permanent installation at the US Consulate in Rio De Janerio, Brazil as part of the Art in Embassies Program and a solo exhibition at Sarah Myerscough Gallery, London UK. Kurtz is represented by Sarah Myerscough Gallery in London and lives in New York’s Hudson Valley.
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Portraits by Kate Orne.
Christopher Kurtz completed his undergraduate work at the Kansas City Art Institute; studied landscape architecture at The GSD at Harvard University in the Career Discovery Program; and received a BFA in sculpture from Alfred University in Alfred, NY. After college he spent five years as the studio assistant to renowned artist Martin Puryear.
Upon leaving his assistantship in 2005, Kurtz set up his studio in the Hudson Valley in NY, and the received the prestigious Louis Comfort Tiffany Award the same year. Working mainly in sculpture, he soon began to explore his passion for furniture, experimenting with one-off and limited-edition pieces. Two years after founding his own studio, as he continued to explore both sculptural and furniture forms, Kurtz was awarded a New York Foundation For the Arts (NYFA) Award as a Lily Auchincloss fellow in 2007.
Through his affiliations with some of the most respected collectible design gallerists, his works have been introduced to global audiences during design fairs, and through exhibitions. In 2018, Kurtz was a finalist for the Loewe Craft Prize and exhibited at the London Design Museum.
The push/pull between sculpture, craft and design illustrates one facet of Kurtz’s philosophy that has grown resolute during the past 15 years, as he has honed his craft and cemented his reputation as an artist on the world stage: the art and furniture he creates have a symbiotic relationship in his process. He does not look at the twin disciplines as separate, choosing instead to embrace both and encourage the influence each has on the other to flow unimpeded. His work is currently exhibited in Objects: USA 2020 at R & Company, NY.