Artist Statement (EN)
I paint because I’m allergic to average. To repetition. To quiet compliance. I need my paintings to hold something strange, charged—something I haven’t fully figured out.
I started making paintings as a way to take up space I didn’t feel allowed to occupy. I grew up feeling invisible, so I painted women who weren’t. Heroic, imagined, familiar but altered. They stare back. They hold the frame. The eyes are a focal point.
Working mostly on large canvases with richly pigmented matte surfaces, I explore tensions between strength and vulnerability, control and collapse. I create visual clashes and surprising scenes—women crowned with octopuses or holding giant rabbits, moments where the familiar and the strange collide.
Texte d’Intention (FR)
Peindre est ma manière de résister à la médiocrité et aux rôles trop étroits. J’ai besoin que mes toiles contiennent quelque chose d’étrange, de chargé—quelque chose que je suis moi-même en train de découvrir.
J’ai commencé à peindre pour occuper un espace qu’on ne m’avait jamais vraiment laissé. Enfant, je me sentais invisible. Alors j’ai peint des femmes qui ne l’étaient pas. Héroïques, inventées, familières mais transformées. Elles soutiennent le regard. Elles tiennent le cadre. Les yeux deviennent des points d’ancrage.
Travaillant principalement sur de grands formats aux surfaces mates et riches en pigments, j’explore les tensions entre force et vulnérabilité, contrôle et effondrement. Je crée des chocs visuels et des scènes surprenantes — femmes coiffées de pieuvres ou tenant de gigantesques lapins, des instants où le familier et l’étrange se rencontrent.
Biography (EN)
Chris Aerfeldt is an Australian-born painter based in Montpellier, France. She originally trained in art teaching before working in fashion design, where she honed her understanding of colour, texture, and form.
Supported by a scholarship, she returned to art school and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art with High Distinction from Adelaide Central School of Art. She subsequently received the prestigious Samstag Scholarship to complete her MFA at Chelsea College of Art, London.
Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in prominent collections, including those of Charles Saatchi, The University of the Arts, London, and the Art Gallery of South Australia. In 2025, she was awarded the People’s Choice Award (‘Coup de Cœur’) at the Grands Prix Artistes Occitanie.
Biographie (FR)
Chris Aerfeldt est une artiste peintre née en Australie et installée à Montpellier, en France. Elle a d’abord été formée à l’enseignement des arts avant de travailler dans le design de mode, où elle a affiné sa compréhension de la couleur, de la texture et de la forme.
Par la suite, grâce à une bourse, elle reprend ses études à l’Adelaide Central School of Art et obtient un Bachelor of Fine Art avec la mention High Distinction. Elle reçoit la prestigieuse bourse Samstag, qui lui permet de poursuivre un Master of Fine Art au Chelsea College of Art, à Londres.
Son travail a été exposé à l’international et figure dans d’importantes collections, notamment celles de Charles Saatchi, de l’University of the Arts de Londres et de l’Art Gallery of South Australia. En 2025, elle reçoit le Prix du Public (Coup de Cœur) lors des Grands Prix Artistes Occitanie.
Curriculum Vitae
Born in Adelaide, South Australia
Lives and works in Montpellier (France)
EDUCATION
2007 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art & Design, London
2001 Bachelor of Visual Art (Hons), Adelaide Central School of Art, South Australia
1998 New York Studio School Drawing Marathon at Adelaide Central School of Art
1980 Bachelor of Education (Art Teaching) University of South Australia
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024-2025 Dream Vision, (two-person show), Castang Art Project, Perpignan, France (Dec/Jan)
2024 Odyssée de lé’Imaginaire, Éspace Saint-Ravy, Montpellier, France
2021 Counter Histories, (two-person show) Praxis ARTSPACE, Adelaide, Australia
2018 The Heroine’s Journey, Muxart Museum, Martorell, Spain
2017 L’art en Boite, Ville de Beziers, France
2017 Kölner-Liste Art Fair, Cologne
2016 La Vie en Rose, Castang Art Project, Perpignan, France
2012 Be Prepared, Helen Gory Galerie at the Melbourne Art Fair
2009 Silver threads and golden needles (cannot mend this heart of mine), Wyer Gallery, London
2006 Flying Visitation, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne, Australia
2004 heav’n & hell, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne, Australia
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Art Montpellier, Artistes Occitanie, Parc des Expositions, Montpellier
2022 Disrupted, WO Foundation (online)
2018 Bad Mannerism, Galerie Pompom, Sydney
2014 Melbourne Art Fair, This Is No Fantasy, Melbourne
2013 Volta Art Fair, Basel, with Berloni Gallery, London
2011 Home Stories, Adelaide Central Gallery and The Migration Museum, Adelaide
2011 Helen Gory Galerie at MOP Projects, Sydney
2010 Melbourne Art Fair with Helen Gory Galerie
2010 G20 World Artist Festival, Korea Press Center, Exhibition Hall, Seoul, South Korea
2008 Chris Aerfeldt & Elinor Evans (two person show), Wyer Gallery, London
2007 Recent Graduates Exhibition, The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London
2007 Future Map, The University of the Arts Gallery, London
2007 MA Graduate Exhibition, Chelsea College of Art & Design, London
2006 I found myself in a strange place, Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
2006 National Works on Paper exhibition, Finalist, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery
2006 ABN AMRO 2006 Emerging Artist Award, ANZ Building Melbourne
2005 Luminous Two, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne
2005 Whyalla Art Prize, Finalist, Whyalla Regional Gallery
2003 SALA Festival Exhibition, Art Gallery of South Australia
2003 Wit and Wisdom, Beauty and Truth, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide
2003 Eleven, Cube Contemporary Art, Adelaide
2003 White Lies Beneath, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne
2003 Hatched, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth
2003 Adelaide Contemporary, Eva Breuer Art Dealer, Sydney
2002 Melbourne International Art Fair, Melbourne, with Cube Contemporary Art
2002 Synthetic Whispers, Helen Gory Galerie, Melbourne
2002 If love fits, wear it, twinBEE Studios, Adelaide
2001 Lo-Sheen, Adelaide Central Gallery, Adelaide
2001 7UP, Studio 91B, Adelaide
2001 Helpmann Academy Graduate Exhibition, Adelaide
2000 Nocturnal Workings, State Library of South Australia, Adelaide
COMMISSIONS AND PROJECTS
University of the Arts London, permanent collection
Artwork appearing in Carla Cametti, SBS Australia TV series, 2009
Artwork as poster for short film ‘Hannah Rosenthal’ 2017, director Naomi Lisner
SELECTED AWARDS
2024 Winner ‘People’s Choice’ & Finalist Jury Prize; Grand Prix Artistes Occitanie, France
2024 Finalist, Jackson’s Art Prize UK
2011 Eran Svigos Award for best visual art at the Adelaide Fringe Festival for Home Stories
2006 Anne & Gordon Samstag Visual Arts Scholarship to undertake MFA at Chelsea College of Art, London
2003 Project Assistance Grant, Arts SA
2002 Joint winner in category ‘Rising Stars’, ‘The Advertiser’ Oscarts 28/12/02
2001 Joint winner ‘Best new talents’, ‘The Advertiser’ Oscarts, 22/12/01
2000 Scholarship for full time studies, Adelaide Central School of Art
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Charles Saatchi (London)
David Roberts (London)
Robert Devereux (London)
University of the Arts London
Art Gallery of South Australia
Artbank Australia
The Faulding Collection (South Australia)
Stillwell Management Consultants (Adelaide)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
2001 Co-Founder of twinBEE Studios, Adelaide, Australia
2002 Lecturer, Adelaide Central School of Art, Australia
SELECTED PRESS AND MEDIA
2025 IMAGES, video-portrait et article, Alexandre Joannidès, France 3 Occitanie
2025 Et soudain… Chris Aerfeldt, Thibault Loucheux-Legendre, Snobinart, No 22/ janvier-février 2025
2025 Il n’est jamais trop d’art, Radio FM_Plus interview, Maria Carrier, radiofmplus.org
2024 L’ Odyssée de l’imaginaire” de Chris Aerfeldt, Thibault Legendre, Snobinart, Oct 2024 [online]
2024 Des femmes hautes en couleur a Saint-Ravy, Caroline Couffinhal, La Gazette de Montpellier, Oct 3-9
2024 Grands Prix Artistes Occitanie 2025 : et les gagnants sont... Anne Devailly, Artistes de France - Occitanie
2024 La peintre Chris Aerfeldt réplique avec son pinceau aux propos outranciers de JD Vance, colistier de Donald Trump, Anne Devailly, Artistes de France - Occitanie
2018 Ten things to do this weekend, Sydney Morning Herald, 03/05
2016 Chris Aerfeldt: Surréalisme et féminisme en clair-obscur, Hérault Juridique et Economique
2015 Le Grand Manège de la Femme de Ménage, Art Dans L’Air, juillet/août
2012 Chris Aerfeldt, Artist Profile magazine, Issue 19, 2012, pp 56-59
2012 The Schtick, S29-09, video interview with Helen Gory
2011 Art Interprets History, John Neylon, The Adelaide Review, March 2011
2011 Home Stories Adelaide Central Gallery, Kelli Rowe, Kryztoff Reviewing Adelaide [online] 13
2011 Back to School with Medeia Cohan-Petrolino, Rise Art [online] 15 August
2011 Profile: Helen Gory Galerie, Australian Art Review, July/August
2011 Helen Gory Galerie in Sydney, Art Monthly, September 2011, p.55
2010 Chris Aerfeldt, Ten Words and One Shot [online] 24 May
2010 Upscale fair; scaled-down range, Robert Nelson, The Age, 6/08/10
2010 Fine Display of Optimism, Edward Colless, The Australian, 6/08/102009
2009 Stylist Magazine London, Issue 1, 7 October
2009 Christine Aerfeldt: Painter, Maureen Gordon, Artdate, March
2008 Christine Aerfeldt & Elinor Evans at the Wyer Gallery, Art Sleuth (online) 12/12/08
2008 Postcard from London & Montpellier, Artstate Magazine, No 23
2008 Greener Pastures, Catherine Bauer, Adelaide Matters, April
2007 Market News, Colin Gleadell, The Telegraph, 18/12/07
2007 Investing in Art, The One Show, BBC1, 14/11/07
2007 Best in Show, Helen Sumpter, Time Out London, 13/6/07 p.46
2007 In search of the next best thing, Simon Davis, The Evening Standard, London, 23/5/07
2007 Close-up: Christine Aerfeldt, Artists & Illustrators, London, Aug 2007 p.88
2006 Emerging artists find fresh expression, Adam Dutkiewicz, The Independent Weekly, Sept 2-8
2006 Two Samstag Scholars about to take flight, Stephanie Radok, Art Gallery Guide, Nov/Dec
2006 Young talent time, Margot Osborne, The Advertiser, 14/10/06 pg 4-5
2006 Arts Breakfast, Interview, Radio Adelaide, 2/9/06
2006 Cheeky tweak to realism, Patrick McDonald, The Advertiser, 25/8/06
2006 World Art, Catherine Bauer, Adelaide Matters, June 2006
2006 Two schools of thought, Tim Lloyd, The Advertiser , 4/2/06
2005 Festival full of fine moments, Wendy Walker, The Advertiser, 13/8/05
2005 The memorable: ephemeral, Samstag Catalogue Essay, Wendy Walker, November 2005
2005 Samstag Scholarships for SA artists, Helpmann Academy Update, Issue 49
2005 Put six artists in a room and look what you get, Patrick McDonald, The Advertiser, 2 3/7/05
2005 Profiled in Art Almanac, Dec 2005/Jan2006 Issue
2004 heav’n & hell, Edward Colless, Catalogue essay, May 2004
2004 Hell’s Angels, Yen Magazine, April/May 2004
2004 Preview, Misha Merz, Imprint Vol 39, No 1, Autumn 04
2002 Whispering among the art, Rachelle Unreich, Melbourne Herald Sun, 20/7/02
2001 Galleries come alive, Wendy Walker, The Advertiser, 13/8/01
2001 Emerging Artists, Adelaide Matters, July 2001
2001 ‘7 UP’, Stateline - ABC TV, 3/08/01
2001 Snapshot - The Graduates, ABC TV, 15/3/01
2000 Moments of Surprise, Wendy Walker, The Advertiser 12/3/01
2000 Successful Collision of Old and New, Sheila Bryce, Helpmann Academy Update, Issue 27
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