About

ChrisPurdie_WEB

Contact
chrispurdiedesign(at)gmail(dot)com

Biography
Utah based conceptual artist Chris Purdie works in the medium of paradoxical or loaded words, images, objects, or traditions to call into question what is accepted as “known.” His work is playful and lighthearted at first glance but has deeper undertones to consider. He works to form meaning and ideas by providing an audience with situations they can participate in or scenarios they can imagine playing out before them. Chris received an MFA in Art & Technology from The Ohio State University.

Statement
The audience is a significant part of my work. The way the audience will perceive and interpret an idea is what drives me. As an artist I feel responsible to empower the audience by creating an environment, setting a stage, then inviting the audience to participate and complete the work. I supply an experience that is open-ended to allow the audience to see it in their mind.

I see myself as a facilitator of human interactions, a producer of multi-sensory experiences, a sculptor of the invisible (thoughts, sound, time, and motion). The sequences and scenarios I set in motion are comprised of objects (constructed and found) and explore ideas related to communication, existence, and resistance. I work with understandable and intuitive objects to provide an opening into the experiences I provide. I seek to find gestures and tropes that contain universal meanings, ones that can bridge gaps and provide a sense of connection, as well as the possibility for individual introspection.

Commonly I begin a project with a word, image, object, or tradition that seems paradoxical or loaded. My desire is to expose discreet details, rupture conventions, and keep things in flux. Within my work, I create subtlety amplifiers to accent or highlight that which may otherwise go unnoticed. At first glance, my interventions may be invisible or silent. Given time and patience, the work will reveal itself to you.

Mission
Bring people into the art. Bring the art into the people. Bring people together.

Curriculum Vitae
Education
2012 Masters of Fine Arts (Presidential Fellowship) – Studio Arts, Art and Technology Emphasis, The Ohio State University
2010 Bachelors of Fine Arts (Magna Cum Laude) – Studio Arts, Sculpture Emphasis, Brigham Young University
2007 Associates in Science Degree (High Honors) – Arts and Visual Communications, Fine Arts Emphasis, Utah Valley University

Professional Experience
2013  Visiting Assistant Professor, Sculpture (3D New Genre), Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2012  Adjunct Faculty, Intro to Drawing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2011-2012 Graduate Teaching Associate, Digital Image Manipulation, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2009  Teacher’s Assistant, Peter Everett (Art History Survey), Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2008-2009  Student Advisory Council, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2007-2008 Artist Assistant, Hyunmee Lee, Highland, Utah
2006  Teacher’s Assistant, Hyunmee Lee, Painting I, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah

Honors & Awards
2013-2014 UMOCA Artist-In-Residence, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City, Utah
2012  20th Annual Fergus Scholarship Award, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2011  19th Annual Fergus Scholarship Award, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2010  Presidential Fellowship, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2010  Visual Arts Department Outstanding Senior Award in 3D Studio, BYU, Provo, Utah
2009  Mentoring Grant, Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA), BYU, Provo, Utah
2008  Betty & Paul Boshard Scholarship, BYU, Provo, Utah
2008  Best In Show, BYU Annual Student Show (Juried) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU, Provo, Utah
2008  Laycock Grant, The Laycock Center for Creative Collaboration in the Arts, BYU, Provo, Utah
2007  Visual Arts Talent Award, College of Fine Arts and Communication, BYU, Provo, Utah
2007  Award of Merit, UVSC Annual Student Art Exhibition (Juried) – UVSC Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2003  Dean’s Purchase Award, Inaugural Cowan Gallery Invitational – Cowan Gallery, Orem, Utah

Exhibition Record (* solo shows marked by an asterisk)
2019 * Rise & Fall – BDAC (Bountiful Davis Art Center), Bountiful, Utah
2019 Transcontinental: People, Place, Impact – Rio Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2018 Rendezvous – UMOCA at Trolley, Salt Lake City, Utah
2017 Mapping – Dixie State University Sears Art Museum, St. George, Utah
2017 Beyond Structure – Spori Gallery, BYU Idaho, Rexburg, ID
2016 Beyond Structure: Representations of the American Barn – Granary Art Center, Ephriam, Utah
2015 Get It Together – Gallery Gallery, Provo, Utah
2015 The Cost of Anything – Alice Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2015 Every Polished Grace – Gallery 303 Foyer, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2014 * The Opening of a Closing – Short Term Parking, Denver, Colorado
2014 * Attend – Smart Space, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2013 * …the indefinite continued progress of existence and events… – CUAC, Salt Lake City, Utah
2013 Below: Artist-In-Residence Group Show – Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Salt Lake City, Utah
2013 Tin – Rio Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2013 89th Annual Spring Salon – Springville Museum of Art, Springville, Utah
2012  Faculty Exhibition – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2012  NextWave: 2012 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Part II, Urban Art Space, Columbus, Ohio
2012  20th Annual Fergus Scholarship Award Exhibition – Swing Space, Columbus, Ohio
2011  Natural | Unnatural – Fuse Factory, Columbus, Ohio
2011  19th Annual Fergus Scholarship Award Exhibition – Hopkins Hall + Corridor, Columbus, Ohio
2011  Recent Arrivals: Department of Art Graduate Students (Class of 2012) – Hopkins Hall + Corridor, Columbus, Ohio
2010  Inventeur – Silver Image Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2010 Objectophilia – MCA Denver, Biennial of the Americas, Denver, Colorado
2010 Art of Our Century – (Juror: Deb Banerjee) Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2010  * I am Chris Purdie Documentary Screening – Velour, Provo, Utah
2010  BYU Annual Student Show (Juried) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  * Admission – Rio Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2009  Salon Style (curated) – Gallery 303, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  Vending Machine Show (Fund Raiser) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  BYU Annual Student Show (Juried) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  Field Workshop Day (Invitational) – Rose Wagner Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah
2009  Food Food Food (Performance) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  * I am Chris Purdie – Sego Art Center, Provo, Utah
2009  Y Sculpture (Invitational) – Snow Art Gallery, Snow College, Ephraim, Utah
2009  Up and Out the Chimney (Invitational) – Coal Umbrella, Provo, Utah
2008  * Synapse 001 – B66, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2008  Virtual Identities/Real Space: First Annual International Juried Exhibition (Juried) – Sego Art Center, Provo, Utah
2008  Significant Forms (Invitational) – Historic O’Brien Gallery, Provo, Utah
2008  Genesis (Invitational) – Sego Art Center, Provo, Utah
2008  BYU Annual Student Show (Juried) – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2007  As For Now­  (Juried) – The Mercantile Gallery, Midway, Utah
2007  A World Without Art (Invitational) – Historic O’Brien Gallery, Provo, Utah
2007  * Evolution of Artifacts – B. F. Larsen Gallery, Harris Fine Arts Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2007  Contemporary Reliquaries: Housing the Mementos of our Day (Invitational) – Auditorium Gallery, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2007  * Evolution of Artifacts – Metropolitan Salon, Provo, Utah
2007  * Evolution of Artifacts – UVSC Library Gallery, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2007  UVSC Annual Student Art Exhibition (Juried) – Utah Valley State College Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2006  Second Annual UNK Board Show – Unknown Gallery, Salt Lake City, Utah
2006   * Pending –Gallery One Ten, Provo, Utah
2005  Utah Arts Councils Statewide Annual Exhibition (Juried) – The Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery, Ogden, Utah
2005  Beverley Beesley Woodbury Open (Juried) – Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2004  Mixed Media & Works on Paper (Juried) – Utah Arts Council Annual Competition, Kimball Art Center, Park City, Utah
2004  Inaugural Exhibition (Invitational) – Cowan Gallery, Springville, Utah
2004   * Codes & Procedures – Gallery 401, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2004  * Codes & Procedures – remnants (secondary location) – Art in the Center, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2004  UVSC Woodbury Open (Juried) – Utah Valley State College Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2004  9th Black & White Competition (Juried) – Eccles Community Art Center, Ogden, Utah
2004  * Chris Purdie Presents: the Electoral College – Cowan Gallery, Orem, Utah
2003  Inaugural Cowan Gallery Invitational – Cowan Gallery, Orem, Utah
2003  9th Annual All Utah Open  (Juried) – Utah Valley State College Woodbury Art Museum, Orem, Utah
2003  Progression  (Juried) – Library Gallery, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2003  * Chris Purdie: Appliance – Art in the Center, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2002  Inaugural Fall Invitational: Five Filters (Invitational)– Sorenson Gallery, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah

Bibliography
2019 Transcontinental: People, Place, Impact (exhibition catalog)
2014 …the indefinite continued progress of existence and events…: Exhibition Catalog, Essay by Samantha Bontempo (Salt Lake City, Utah: CUAC, 2013)
2013 Clark, Ehren “When Art and Physics Collide: The reality of Chris Purdie at CUAC” 15 Bytes, December 2013 (with images) https://artistsofutah.org/15bytes/13dec/page4.html
2010  Hill, Leah Stoker “Students told: ‘Never give up’” The Daily Universe, April 27, 2010 https://universe.byu.edu/node/7956
2009  Admission: Exhibition Catalog, Essay – Joseph Parry Associate Professor of Humanities, BYU (Salt Lake City, Utah: Rio Gallery / BYU, 2009, 8 pp.)
2009  “Visual art notes: Elemental art, a look at Orem, a craft sale and whimsical possibilities” The Salt Lake Tribune, November 25, 2009 https://www.sltrib.com/arts/ci_13868388#top
2009  Sheehan, Gavin “December Gallery Stroll: Marc Bradley Johnson & Chris Purdie” City Weekly, December 07, 2009 (with images) https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/blog-2701-december-gallery-stroll-marc-bradley-johnson-chris.html
2009  Chamberlain, Amanda “Who is Chris Purdie? Try to guess during Provo’s Gallery Stroll” In Magazine, March 05, 2009, https://dev.inthisweek.com/view.php?id=134233
2009  City Beat: Your Inside Look at Provo. Jeppson, Skyler: Provo Channel 17, April 1, 2009. 7:38 minutes. I am Chris Purdie Performance Footage & Interview.
2009  Clark, Cody “Personality Crisis” Daily Herald, March 05, 2009 (with image) https://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/302010/3/
2009  Clark, Ehren “Identity C(h)rises” 15 Bytes, March 2009 (with image) https://www.artistsofutah.org/15bytes/09mar/page1.html
2009  I am Chris Purdie: Exhibition Catalog, Introduction – Jason Metcalf, Sego Art Center Director; Essay – Jill Dawsey Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Utah Museum of Fine Arts; Wade Hollingshaus PhD Assistant Professor of Theatre and Media Arts, BYU (Provo, Utah: Sego Art Center / BYU, 2009, 12 pp.)
2009  I am Chris Purdie. Simmons, Judy: aju films, 2009. 10 minutes. Exhibition Documentary.
2009  Provo Art Stroll. Nickles, Mary: 2News This Morning, KUTV, March 6, 2009. 2:10 minutes. Television Interview.
2009  Renshaw, Scott “I Am Chris Purdie” City Weekly, March 04, 2009 (with image) https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-7489-ldi-am-chris-purdierd.html
2009  Scroggins, Rachel “BYU student brings out ‘performance art’ at new local exhibit” (review) BYU NewsNet, March 09, 2009 (with image) https://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/71624
2009  Sundquist, Mel “Who is Chris Purdie?” UVU Review, March 02, 2009 https://media.www.uvureview.com/media/storage/paper982/news/2009/03/02/Life/Who-Is.Chris.Purdie-3656130.shtml
2009  337 Project Newsletter, March 2009 (with image) https://archive.constantcontact.com/fs051/1102247843033/archive/1102499421991.html#LETTER.BLOCK21
2008  Inscape Art Publication (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 2007, pp. Contents, 17, 28, 30-31 fold-out, 63, 95, 117).
2007  Evolution of Artifacts: Exhibition Catalog, Bibliography – Hyunmee Lee, Essay – Courtney Davis MA JD (Orem, Utah: Utah Valley State College, 2007, 8 pp.).
2006  Intersections (Orem, Utah: Utah Valley State College, 2006)
2004  Touchstones: A Magazine of Literature and Art (Orem, Utah: Utah Valley State College, 2004, pp. cover, contents, 11, 56, 136, 139, back cover).
2003  1000 CD’s (Limited Pressing), Eat the Key, audio, 21 minutes. (Distributed by Diary Records, Denton, Texas. Cover, Back Cover & CD).
2002  Five Filters: Exhibition Catalogue, Bibliography – Lee, Hyunmee. (Orem, Utah: Utah Valley State College, 2002, pp. cover, 5, back cover).

Lectures & Workshops
2019 Lecture (Now v. Then), BYU Museum of Art Contemporary Art Lecture Series, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2014 Presentation, Department of Visual Arts Professional Practices class, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2013 Presentation (Art, Exhibiting, and Audience), Department of Art, Snow College, Ephraim, Utah
2013 Juror, Presenter, and Demonstrator; The Spring Art Show, Monticello Academy, West Valley City, Utah
2013 Presentation (Art, Exhibiting, and Audience), Department of Visual Arts Visiting Artists Seminar, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2012 Presentation (Graduate School), Department of Visual Arts Professional Practices class, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2010  Convocation Speaker, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  Lecture (I am Chris Purdie), Department of Visual Arts Visiting Artists Seminar, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah
2009  Lecture (I am Chris Purdie), Evening with the Artist Lecture and Discussion Series, Sego Art Center, Provo, Utah
2009  Lecture (I am Chris Purdie), Arts & Visual Communications Lecture Series, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
2006  Lecture, Painting III, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2006  Demonstration, Painting III, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah
2004   Lecture (Codes & Procedures) – Gallery 401, Utah Valley State College, Orem, Utah

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