BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Renowned for his vibrant, larger-than-life paintings, Kristopher Wright brings the stories of his world to life through bold strokes and electrifying colors. Each piece reflects the people and experiences that have shaped him, blending personal history with universal emotions. Through his art, he challenges perceptions while celebrating the resilience and richness of culture, creating a visual narrative that is both thought-provoking and deeply moving. Kristopher stated in his interview with Colorado Pulic Radio, “I think a lot of my work is about the idea of congregation and togetherness.” A relevant and very timely sentiment indeed. We had the opportunity to learn more from Kristopher, about his process and evolution as a thought-provoking creative in the Colorado art scene.
Your paintings are celebrated for capturing moments of joy, celebration, and loss in American life. How do you approach balancing these emotional extremes in your work?
As a man of color growing up in America, contending with life’s contradictions really comes with the territory and continues to shape my personal experiences – but moreover, James Joyce says “…In the particular is contained the universal.” and I strive to engage in that philosophy as an artmaker. I think it’s important to take everything that has made you who you are and put it into your work, excavating your truth, your joy, your loss, your pain, and sharing that with other people. It’s about having faith that those things, however specific, will resonate with everyone.
The combination of painting, screen printing, and collage techniques is central to your storytelling. Can you walk us through your creative process and how you decide which mediums to integrate?
I think our lives are an assemblage of the stories we tell ourselves, of the people we love, and of the experiences that form us – and I try to allow my paintings to reflect that same idea. Often, my work begins as a collaging of photographs and drawings – building out, re-imagining the underlying architecture and composition of the story I want to tell…
From there, I scale things up onto life-sized canvases, focusing first on bright colors and flat shapes using brushes and paint. Once I’m happy with the direction of the work, I bring the canvas down onto the floor and screen-print various fragments of that initial collage on top of the painting using half-tone dots. I like to think of these paintings as tapestries of memory and meaning and it’s always an exciting challenge to bring balance between these different approaches to mark-making!
Your work often incorporates elements of found photography, machine diagrams, and anatomical studies. What draws you to these unconventional sources, and how do they inform your narratives?
I grew up working on cars and motorcycles with my Dad. And from an early age, I was always fascinated with how things worked. I believe the machine diagrams in my paintings are an expression of that same curiosity… asking myself and the viewer the big questions about life, and about timing, rhythm, repair, and transformation. These diagrammatic lines and shapes add movement and unity to the work, inviting you to draw new connections.
Living and working on an 85-acre ranch in Colorado’s San Luis Valley must provide a unique perspective. How does your environment influence your art and creative practices?
My wife, Corianne, and I left Denver and moved here to The SLV in 2019 – We quickly fell in love with the beauty of the land, the hardworking and creative spirit of our community and the rich history of the area! It was an opportunity to finally build my own art studio, to go into hiding for a while and continue to develop this body of work; allowing me to make bigger paintings and take bigger risks!
Your solo exhibition, ‘Just As I Am,’ received significant acclaim in 2022. What did that experience mean to you, and how has it shaped your approach to future exhibitions like ‘Rock, Salt & Nails’?
To have had my very first solo exhibition with Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art means the world to me! I spent a little over a year developing that show and the reception by family, friends, and colleagues has been incredible. BMoCA challenged me to trust myself as an artist, and showed me what’s possible when you pursue truth and vulnerability in the work.
Memory plays a central role in your work. How do you navigate the interplay between your personal memories and those of your audience when creating your pieces?
Memory is one of those things that’s hard to define – it’s fluid, not fixed. And not only does the recollecting of experience differ between individuals, but I think memory is constantly changing and re-orienting itself, adding new context to your present experience here on earth. Family reunions and birthday parties, Sunday service and funerals, the journey from childhood to adulthood, I believe these are things we can all relate to.
As someone committed to sustainable farming and creative practices, how do you see the connection between the rhythms of nature and the themes of your art?
As an avid conservationist, I’m incredibly passionate about regenerative farming, land management, and creating environments for people and wildlife to flourish! My latest exhibition, ‘Rock, Salt & Nails’, in many ways, is a love letter to my home here in the San Luis Valley; celebrating the hardworking spirit of the people, the colors of the landscape, and beauty of the animals that make this place magical.
Graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago has no doubt shaped your trajectory. What lessons or influences from your time there continue to resonate in your work today?
Chicago is my home just as much as Colorado is! The first time my mother brought me to the Art institute I was maybe seven years old and I remember being spellbound, standing in front of masterpieces by Picasso, Guston, de Kooning and Seurat. Attending SAIC for my BFA was a true privilege; the school taught me to think more deeply about artmaking, about community and taking creative risks.
Your art is now part of the Denver Art Museum’s permanent collection. How does it feel to have your work preserved for future generations, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?
Honestly, I’m still processing all of it – it’s surreal to say the least! Being originally from Denver and having worked professionally as an artist here in Colorado for the past decade, it feels like a full circle moment and a dream come true! It’s truly an honor, and I’ll be forever grateful to The DAM, Rory Padeken, James-Allen Holmes, Jimmy King, Doug Kacena and K Contemporary for supporting my work and seeing value in my story.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I’m really not sure what’s next for me! Over the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to produce three solo exhibitions comprised of 32 paintings. I’m just beginning the journey of developing my next body of work, but for now, I’m excited to get back to all of the other things that feed my creative process like spending time with family, raising chickens and goats, working in the garden, riding dirt bikes and traveling!
We’re inspired not only by your beautiful work, but your sustainably thoughtful lifestyle, cheers to your current and future successes, Kristopher! If you would like to see more of Kristopher Wright’s body of work, visit online at kristopherwright.art or in person at the Denver Art Museum.