Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Willcox
Hi Chris, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am Canadian–I was born in Toronto. My Art schooling started there, first at The Ontario College of Art and Design and later I received a BFA from the University of Guelph, in Ontario. While being an art student, I also started a job at the CBC(Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) as a scenic artist for film and TV. I further worked at a mural studio making large scale murals for zoos and the American restaurant chain, O’Charley’s. A professor of mine in Ontario who attended Kent State alerted me to the MFA program at Rutgers saying he thought there was a strong history there of feminist painting, queer activism and art. I was accepted and thus began the next 25 years living and working in the United States. Since then I have worked as a tenured professor teaching painting at Macalester College in St Paul. Mac is a wonderful place to be and work and I’m grateful for all I’ve learned from colleagues and students about racial justice, gender politics and political activism.
I’ve continued to make work as a painter exhibiting at Canadian and US colleges and university galleries, public art institutions including the Bloomington Arts Center and with the Mia’s Minnesota Artist’s Exhibition program. While I’ve made very large scale paintings over the years, my current work is more modest in scale and incorporates imagery from a variety of sources–books, vintage postcards and magazines, the internet etc. A theme in my work has been to explore seemingly disconnected imagery and histories and place them together to create new meanings. I remain engaged with current visual cultures while looking back through history to make combination images in order to find a third (or fourth…) entity. Additionally, I started to work smaller because I had 2 sons (both now in college at Lawrence University). I was able to find studio hours rather than entire studio days while both parenting and teaching and smaller work made it possible to finish things more easily and succinctly. Both my sons are in art fields–one in studio art the other in art history and english. I deeply appreciate our conversations and continue to be awed by their intelligence and creativity. They have always helped me grow as a person and artist.
I just got married this year to my longterm partner, Lark, who is also in a creative field–she’s a pianist and a generally creative thinker. We just got a camper/trailer and hope to spend time going between Canada and Minnesota as I retire and become a full-time painter. I also want to paint while traveling, which is something I’ve never done extensively. MN has been the best state to live in! It’s where I call home and its diversity, beauty and arts and culture scene is what’s kept me here for so long.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My career has been quite smooth and linear–where one opportunity easily opened doors for the next ones. I parented my sons as a half-time single parent for many years–that was at times lonely and difficult. My older sister died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm in 2021, so that has been life changing for me and my family. I have had to be in a caretaker role for my mom and sister as we’ve all navigated the loss together. that has had an impact on all my relationships. It’s said that couples who have blended families (as Lark and I have had–she also has 2 kids), get their “honeymoon” years later rather than the beginning of their relationship together . Lark and I are both looking forward to that!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As i mentioned, I’m an artist–painting is my medium. I would categorize myself as “artist/educator” since so much of my life has been spent both making art and teaching art. I think of myself as a versatile painter–working as a scenic artist meant making “realistic imagery” sometimes at a large scale. I also let my mark making be loose and gestural now so “realism” isn’t the goal for me–emotion, meaning and connection to the metaphysical arts are more important. I use astrology and tarot to find meaning in my life which is incorporated into my art (whether obviously as imagery or not). I’m not sure what i’m known for! Being a “kind Canadian” I suppose. I like to think I can see many sides of a situation because of my life experiences. I’m most proud of having worked with so many outstanding students where we helped each other learn and similarly, my sons, who I’ve had the joy of being alongside all these years. What sets me apart from others…maybe the fact that I can mix and match any paint color on demand!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
introspective, quiet and at the same time friendly. I like to think of myself as an introvert with pretty good social skills. I also find many things funny. I was always told I was funny.
Pricing:
- if people want to buy my work(I am currently setting up my Instagram site to sell work). Prices of small works will be listed there
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chriswillcoxart.com
- Instagram: @chrisw1205
