Christopher Pothier is best known for his quixotic, hard-hitting, contemporary realist paintings which address social, political, and personal issues. He occasionally offers a nostalgic painting of children at play, albeit reminiscent of "Lord of the Flies," or images with overtones of forbidding. It’s his true nature to look deep in, after all, which is generally why no matter the subject Pothier offers beauty laced with dread or conflict and evokes familiar feelings in us which may simmer just out of reach.
In, Wrangling with Shadows, his 2022 Bowersock Gallery exhibition, Pothier will premier Rooms, his latest series.
The show opens with an artists’ reception from 7-9 pm, on Friday, September 2nd through Tuesday, September 20th.
Chris's work is an incredible mix of elegance and angst, whether he uses bold hues in his cowboy series, or the shadowy colors of his businessmen, in another. In Rooms, he takes a turn into deeply personal places, emotionally inspired and inspiring with a series based on dreams and sketches going back through 25 years. It’s a slight departure from previous works and is a way of exploring a bevy of emotions where he tangles up close and personal with isolation, miscommunication, and self-worth, gripping with what’s important in life. He’s incredibly excited about the direction it’s taking and admits to be doing quite a lot of illuminative inner work through it.
Pothier's strong statements are more poetry than novel; emotion is clear, image strong but always nuanced and multifaceted, leaving the viewer to contemplate intent. The process included building a full-sized room of Balsa wood and Japanese paper in his studio, to aid the maturation of both the ideas and execution. He’s very adamant about following guide posts that stay true to the exploration of ideas; his process IS his art. "I am learning about these ideas in real-time, letting them unfold organically without taking any shortcuts, really important, especially for a narrative artist like myself."
Steve Bowersock, Curator/Owner of Bowersock Gallery feels that the way Chris tells a story is off the cliff intriguing; the images make an immediate in your face impact and often leave you wondering just what the hell is going on. With every single piece, you can count on a narrative that will keep you head-scratching for some time to come.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Chris Pothier is renowned for his large-scale murals and canvases commissioned by localities, private concerns, and institutions; all of his various works are exhibited throughout the United States.
