NSG Affiliate Christopher Owen Nelson

Nelson’s creations reveal the dynamic nature of intrinsic existence, as thought and feeling align within a medium that is uniquely his own. Combining elements of his skills in painting, construction and songwriting, Nelson illus-trates deliberate yet subconscious narratives guided by lucid dreamscape. His work continues to grow in scale and in concept. Nelson is bound by no medium; creates in a perpetual state of research and development. Striking his own path, he cuts a wide road for future pioneers. Nelson exists in leaps and bounds. The art world follows in double time.
Artist CHRISTOPHER OWEN NELSON National Sculptors' Guild Columbine Gallery Abstract Organic Natural Paintings and Sculptures Through my work I am exploring a flawed human perception of permanence in relation to the natural world. My intent is to focus on creating subjects that are seemingly present from certain perspectives, but are merely shells of something that once existed. Reflections, that appear and vanish when viewed from slightly different angles, create ghost-like transfigurations on the angular facades of the work, alluding to our fleeting and delicate landscape. My goal is for the viewer to feel as though they are looking at something fossilized or from another time, while addressing environmental topics such as deforestation, overpopulation and waste. For me, trees have been one of the most effective protagonists in stimulating these issues, elegantly delivering a message of strength, endurance and hope. Living through generation after generation of human life, trees become symbols of infinite wisdom, but they too are ephemeral beings in a much larger, more complex structure that has no set date of expiration, and is by no means permanent.
Christopher Owen Nelson
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Christopher Owen Nelson thrives in the vast arid landscape of the American West. As a Colorado native, he studied fine arts at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design where he learned classical methods in drawing and painting. While developing a deep appreciation for composition and form, Nelson focused on employing alternative materials; sculpting with used carpet, found objects and painting on glass. He continued on to pursue a career in construction, whereby gaining valuable knowledge in concrete, steel and woodworking that would eventually lay substructure for a new and innovative artistic approach.​Nelson’s creativity is fathomless, as is evident in all aspects of his life. As a successful songwriter/musician, he conveys feelings of beauty and loss, lightness and dark intertwine. These same concepts are mirrored in his visual art, where barren, leafless trees fracture solitary space. Nelson’s portraiture suggests that even the people we are the most intimate with will forever remain mysterious beings. Here, beauty is drawn from the darker aspects of life. There is a consistent thread that runs throughout all bodies of his work; a need to transform shadow and grit into something beautiful and smooth.
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Critical attention and art world accolades have been swift and abundant. Early honors include the Most Promising Artist Scholarship Award, and being named as one of “21 Under 31 Emerging Artists” earmarked for success, by Southwest Art Magazine. Recently Nelson’s achievements in the arts have been featured in several national publications, including: Western Art Collector; Luxe Interiors and Design; Western Art and Architecture; Santa Fean magazine, and American Art Collector.