Blake A. Chamness (b. 1987, Illinois, United States)
I am exploring the idea of a collective visual conscience that we have as a globalizing society. Our culture is overwhelmingly visual. The Internet has given us access to a seemingly endless supply of picture information that anyone can contribute to or draw from. It is the tangible, seeable, searchable body of knowledge from our place in history.
In my artwork I aim to transfigure some of that barrage of information, to turn the reportage into metaphor, the factual into poetry. My childhood interests of science fiction, storytelling, and the natural world hold heavy sway in my artwork. The imagery I create reflects my curiosity of exploration and oddity. Strange and ominous characters emerge to create a haunting narrative throughout my body of work,reminiscent of monster movies, campfire stories, science textbooks, and tattered comic pages.
Education
Metropolitan State University of Denver, Art K-12 Teaching License, 2012
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2009
Solo and Feature Exhibitions
2017 Apophenia, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2016 Invalid Nuance, Eli Taylor West, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2015 Robotanical, guest artist spot, Valkarie Gallery, Lakewood CO
2015 Transpiration, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2015 Impermanence, with Chris Cain, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2014 INNER MYTHS, Next Gallery, Denver CO
Group Exhibitions
2017 Current Climate, group exhibition Next Gallery, Denver CO
2015 Screenplay, Helikon Gallery, Denver CO
2015 Grimm: Visions of the Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, Helikon Gallery, Denver, CO
2014 Collaboration, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2014 Volume, Helikon Gallery, Denver CO Curated by Emily J. Moore
2014 Holy Moly juried exhibition, Niza Knoll Gallery, Denver CO Juror: Mark Penner Howell
2014 ROBO2 juried exhibition, Good Thieves Press, Denver CO
2014 New Life juried exhibition, Next Gallery, Denver CO Juror: Bonnie Ferrill Roman
2013 - 2017 Member Holiday Show, Next Gallery, Denver CO
2013 Art Rodeo: RedLine's 4th Annual Artist Bacchanal, Redline Gallery, Denver CO
2010 Artbash, Robischon Gallery, Denver CO
2009 Rmcad Graduate Show, Phillip J. Steele Gallery, Lakewood CO
2009 RMCAD Student Art Show, RMCAD Campus, Lakewood CO
2008 RMCAD Student Art Show, RMCAD Campus, Lakewood CO
2008 Artbash, Phillip J. Steele Gallery, Lakewood CO
Memberships
2013-Present Co-Director and Member, Next Co-op Gallery, Denver CO
2013-Present Colorado Art Educators Association
Teaching and Student Collaborations
2013-2018 Visual Arts Teacher, Weld Central Middle School, Keenesburg CO
2012 Participated in the One Million Bones project with students from Casey Middle School and Boulder High School.
2012 Visual Art Student Teaching, Whittier Elementary and Casey Middle School, Boulder CO
2012 EPIC Arts Exhibition, Redline Gallery, Denver CO -- Collaborated with teacher Sarah Shay and students from the Odyssey School to create stop motion videos addressing the theme of social justice
2012 Guest artist, Colorado Academy, Denver CO -- Brainstormed with students to create a mural design for a mosaic installation
2011 Epic Arts Exhibition, Redline Gallery, Denver CO – Collaborated with artist Derrick Velasquez, teacher Sarah Chung, and students from AXL Academy to create stencil artwork addressing the theme of social justice.
Publication
2014 20 Questions with Blake A. Chamness by Emily J Moore, Helikon Gallery Blog
2011-2012 Staff Illustrator for the UCD Advocate, CU Denver’s Weekly Student-run Newspaper
Elsewhere Online:
Instagram // Twitter // Tumblr // Next Gallery // Etsy
Thank you for visiting.
Please direct all inquiries to [email protected]