About THE WORK
Chris Aerfeldt's paintings of women transform daily life and mundane activities into uncanny events and mysterious adventures.
The artist blends references from art history, folk tales, fashion photography and daily rituals. Her paintings reflect an intense inner world where personal dilemmas, yearnings, and complex desires play out on the canvas.
Aerfeldt was born in Australia, the daughter of Estonian migrants. She grew up feeling invisible and powerless within a highly regimented home. To escape mundane routines, she plunged herself into the magical worlds of fantasy literature, like Alice in Wonderland, The Narnia Chronicles, and Greek mythology. These stories along with their striking illustrations became oases for her imagination. And painting pictures became her escape.
Today, each artwork is intended as an act of freedom; a form of resistance against what is expected of us.
À Propos (FR)
Les peintures de femmes de Chris Aerfeldt transforment la vie quotidienne et les activités banales en événements étranges et aventures mystérieuses.
L’artiste fusionne références à l'histoire de l'art, contes populaires, la photographie de mode et rituels quotidiens. Ses peintures révèlent un monde intérieur intense où les dilemmes personnels, les aspirations et les espoirs complexes se jouent sur la toile.
Aerfeldt est née en Australie, fille d'immigrés estoniens. Elle a grandi en se sentant invisible et impuissante au sein d'un foyer très réglementé. Pour échapper aux routines banales, elle s'est plongée dans les mondes magiques de la littérature fantastique, comme Alice au Pays des Merveilles, les Chroniques de Narnia et la mythologie grecque. Ces histoires et leurs illustrations saisissantes sont devenues des oasis pour son imagination. Et la peinture est devenu son échappatoire.
Aujourd'hui, chaque œuvre d'art est conçue comme un acte de liberté, une forme de résistance aux normes et à ce que l’on attend de nous.
Biography (EN)
Chris Aerfeldt was born in Adelaide, Australia, to Estonian parents. After completing a Bachelor of Education in Art Teaching she spent over a decade honing her colour and design skills in the world of high-end fashion.
Aerfeldt received a Bachelor of Fine Art (Hons) from Adelaide Central School of Art. She was then awarded a Samstag Scholarship, enabling her to travel to London to earn a Master of Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art and Design.
The artist has exhibited at the Melbourne Art Fair, the Volta Art Fair in Basel, Castang Art Project in Perpignan, the Espai Muxart in Spain, The University of the Arts London, Helen Gory Gallery in Melbourne, and Praxis Artspace in Adelaide. Her paintings have entered numerous international collections, including Charles Saatchi, David Roberts, Robert Devereux, the University of the Arts, London, and The Art Gallery of South Australia.
Aerfeldt currently lives and works in Montpellier in the south of France, and also has a studio in Barcelona.
Biographie (FR)
Chris Aerfeldt réalise des peintures sur le thème du voyage de l'héroïne. Elle tente de réécrire le scénario féminin en retravaillant les images de femmes produites en masse à partir de sources de l'histoire de l'art et de la culture populaire.
Née à Adélaïde, en Australie, de parents estoniens, Chris Aerfeldt a obtenu une licence en enseignement artistique. Elle a passé plus d'une décennie à perfectionner ses compétences en matière de couleurs et de design dans le secteur de la mode haut de gamme, en créant des vêtements uniques célèbres.
Aerfeldt a obtenu une licence en beaux-arts (avec mention) à l'Adelaide Central School of Art. Elle a reçu une bourse Samstag, ce qui lui a permis de se rendre à Londres pour obtenir une maîtrise en beaux-arts au Chelsea College of Art and Design.
Aerfeldt a exposé à la Volta Art Fair de Bâle, à la Melbourne Art Fair, au Castang Art Project de Perpignan, à l'Espai Muxart en Espagne, à l'University of the Arts London, à la Helen Gory Gallery de Melbourne et au Praxis Artspace d'Adélaïde. Ses peintures sont entrées dans de nombreuses collections internationales, notamment celles de Charles Saatchi, David Roberts, Robert Devereux, l'Université des arts de Londres et la Galerie d'art d'Australie-Méridionale.
Aerfeldt vit et travaille actuellement à Montpellier, dans le sud de la France, et aussi a son atelier à Barcelone.
curriculum vitae
Born in Adelaide, South Australia;
Lives and works in Montpellier (France) and Barcelona (Spain)
EDUCATION
2007 MA Fine Art, Chelsea College of Art & Design, London (Samstag Scholarship for international study)
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
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-List 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
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 film ‘Hannah Rosenthal’ 2017, director Naomi Lisner
SELECTED AWARDS
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)
SELECTED PRESS AND MEDIA
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
2011 Saatchi online artist of the day, 16 Feb
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 Stateline – ‘7 UP’, 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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