Christopher Mudgett
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Christopher Mudgett | |
|---|---|
 Mudgett in Soho, NYC - 2016 | |
| Born | Christopher Joseph Mudgett December 14, 1982 |
| Education | Self-taught |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, printmaking |
Christopher Joseph Mudgett (born December 14, 1982) is an American painter, draftsman, printmaker and sculptor based in Los Angeles, California. His work is characterized by monochromatic depictions of the human figure, frequently incorporating geometric distortions and fragmented anatomy. Mudgett's practice has been discussed in relation to Cubism and Surrealism. [1]
Mudgett began exhibiting his work in the early 2010s. His exhibitions have included presentations in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities, the Los Angeles Art Show, Art Basel Miami, 2016 Saatchi Art's "Fresh Faces: New Portraits of LA Artists", the 2018 solo exhibit "Gray Matters" in Los Angeles, the 2024 solo exhibition "THE PISS" at ESO Bureau de Recherches in LA, and "Studio Iron" a 2026 group exhibition curated by Isamaya Ffrench and presented by Saatchi Yates in London.
He currently lives and works in the historic core district of downtown Los Angeles.[2]
Early life
[edit]Christopher Joseph Mudgett was born on December 14, 1982, in Sherman, Texas. He has described drawing since childhood and has said that his early interest in visual art developed alongside his early exposure to music and popular culture.
Before establishing himself as a visual artist, Mudgett worked in the music industry for approximately 15 years. He has subsequently described music as an approach to composition, particularly his interest in rhythm, repetition, line and relationships between individual elements.
Mudgett has identified a childhood visit to the Barnes Collection in Dallas with his grandmother as an important formative experience. He has cited artist including Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Pablo Picasso, and Georges Braque among influences on his painting and drawing.
According to Mudgett, the death of his mother was a turning point in his decision to devote himself to visual art. In a 2024 profile in "Flaunt", he described transitioning toward a visual-art practice at approximately age 28, following what he characterized as an intensified need to create. [3]
Career
[edit]Mudgett began exhibiting publicly in the early 2010s. A 2017 art publication described him as having exhibited in galleries and art fairs since 2012. [4]
In 2013 Mudgett presented his first solo exhibition, "Nobody's Perfect", at Coba Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. The exhibition formed part of his early development within the Downtown LA art scene.
In January 2015, Mudgett participated in the LA Art Show as part of bG Gallery's presentation at booth 827. Contemporary coverage by LA Art Party listed Mudgett among the artists represented by the gallery at the exhibition.[5]
The Los Angeles Art Show was subsequently covered by "The Huffington Post" in an article titled "LA Art Show Attracts More Celebrities With Each New Year!" published in January 2016. The article discusses participating galleries and artists at the annual Los Angeles exhibition, including bG Gallery's presentation.
In 2016, Mudgett was included in "Fresh Faces: New Portaits of L.A. Artist's", presented by Saatchi in Santa Monica. The exhibition featured 14 Los Angeles artists and was curated by Katherine Henning and Jessica McQueen. Saatchi Art's exhibition documentation identifies Mudgett among the participating artists.[6]
Mudgett subsequently developed an independent studio practice. In interviews, he has discussed maintaining control over the production, presentation and distribution of his work rather than relying exclusively on conventional gallery representation. [7]
Artistic practice
[edit]Mudgett's paintings and drawings are predominately monochromatic, using black, white, and shades of gray. His figurative compositions frequently combine recognizable human anatomy with geometric simplification, distortion, and fragmentation.
The human figure is a central subject of his work. His paintings depict individual figures or hybrid forms. Faces and bodies are frequently constructed from angular planes, exaggerated proportions, and simplified geometric structures.
Mudgett's work has been described in relation to Cubism, particularly in its fragmentation of the human figure and treatment of the body as a collection of geometric forms. His use of unexpected imagery and psychologically oriented compositions has also prompted comparisons with aspects of Surrealism.
Mudgett has described monochrome as a means of exploring oppositions including life and death, light and darkness, and love and hate. He has discussed human relationships, identity, mortality, and social conditions as recurring subjects in his work.
His working process is largely improvisational. Mudgett has said that he often begins paintings without a predetermined finished composition, and allows forms to emerge through the process of painting. He has also described repeatedly revisiting earlier works, painting over existing compositions, and working on numerous canvases simultaneously. [8]
Music remains an influence on Mudgett's practice. He has compared relationships between lines and forms in his drawings to musical elements such as rhythm, melody, and harmony.
THE PISS
[edit]In 2024, Mudgett presented "THE PISS", a body of paintings depicting women sitting or squatting on toilets. The series developed over several years and ultimately included more than 30 related paintings. [9]
The exhibition was presented at ESO bureau de recherches in Los Angeles and was curated by photographer and artist Gene Lemuel. It ran from March 21 - April 18, 2024. [10]
"Flaunt" covered the exhibition in it's "Fresh Cuts" issue in an article by Annie Bush, with photographs by Gene Lemuel. The article described Mudgett's studio practice and his production of monochromatic paintings and drawings. [11]
The article reported that Mudgett produced between 10 to 50 drawings per day, referring to the drawings as his "Catch of the Day". It also describes his practice of working across multiple canvases and revisiting or painting over previous works. [12]
The toilet became a recurring subject within this body of work. Mudgett associated the development of the series with the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and described the subject in relation to bodily functions and changing attitudes to public restrooms. [13]
One work from this period, ''Woman at the Toilet IV'' (2021), was subsequently included in the 2026 exhibition "Studio Iron" in London.
Studio Iron
[edit]In 2026, Mudgett participated in "Studio Iron", a multidisciplinary group exhibition curated by British creative director and artist Isamaya Ffrench and presented by Saatchi Yates in London.
The exhibition was presented at Saatchi Yates' Saint James Gallery and brought together painting, sculpture, installation, furniture, and design. Saatchi Yates described "Studio Iron" as a exhibit intended to challenge conventional distinctions between art, design, and objects. [14]
Mudgett was represented by ''Woman at the Toilet IV'', (2021), an oil painting on canvas measuring 182 by 152 by 3.8 centimetres. Saatchi Yates listed the work in its exhibition documentation alongside works by artists including Anselm Kiefer, Miriam Cahn, Marlene Dumas, Anne Imhof, Marina Abramović, Paul McCarthy, Jordan Wolfson, and Ugo Rondinone. [15]
The inclusion of ''Woman at the Toilet IV'' connected Mudgett's participation in "Studio Iron" with the figurative subject matter developed in "THE PISS". The 2021 painting predates the 2024 exhibition but belongs to the broader group of works in which Mudgett explores the human figure and the toilet as a subject.
"Dazed" covered "Studio Iron" following its opening and described the exhibition as Ffrench's first major move in to art curation. The publication characterized the exhibition as an immersive environment bringing together works from different artistic and design disciplines. [16]
"System Magazine" also covered the exhibition in May of 2026, documenting Ffrench's approach to the project and it's presentation at Saatchi Yates.
The exhibition was originally scheduled to run from April 30 to June 7, 2026. Saatchi Yates subsequently extended the exhibition, with its current exhibition archive recording the dates as April 30 through June 14, 2026.[17]
Reception and coverage
[edit]Mudgett's work has been covered by art, fashion, and cultural publications including ''Flaunt'', ''Dazed'', ''Voyage Magazine'', ''ONS Manual'', ''LVBX Magazine'', ''Noir Catcher Magazine'', and ''Atelier Judith''.
A 2024 profile in "Flaunt" provided extended coverage of Mudgett's studio practice and "THE PISS", including descriptions of the volume of his drawings and paintings and the development of his toilet paintings. [18]
His participation in the Los Angeles Art Show was documented by contemporary Los Angeles arts coverage, including LA Art Party, while his inclusion in Saatchi Art's 2016 Fresh Faces exhibition was documented by Saatchi Art's exhibition archive.[19][20]
His 2026 participation in "Studio Iron" was documented by Saatchi Yates and covered independently by publications including "Dazed". [21][22]
Selected exhibitions
[edit]Nobody's Perfect, Coba Gallery, Downtown Los Angeles, 2013.
Los Angeles Art Show, bG Gallery, Los Angeles Convention Center, January 2015 & 2016.[23]
Fresh Faces: New Portraits of L.A. Artists, Saatchi Art, Santa Monica, 2016.[24]
GRAY MATTERS, Downtown Los Angeles, August 24, 2018. Curated by the artist and presented by Mudgett Archive.
THE PISS, ESO bureau de recherches / Los Angeles, March 21–April 18, 2024. Curated by Gene Lemuel.[25]
Studio Iron, Saatchi Yates, London, April 30–June 14, 2026. Curated by Isamaya Ffrench.[26]
Collections
[edit]Christopher Mudgett's artwork is currently held in private collections around the world, including North & Central America, Great Britain, Singapore, Denmark, Spain, Germany, France, and China.[27]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Artist Interview: Christopher Mudgett". Live Box Magazine – Culture/Profiles. August 30, 2016. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- ↑ "An Artist's Manifesto: Christopher Mudgett". ONS Manual – Issue 5. August 10, 2016. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
- ↑ Bush, Annie (2024). "Christopher Mudgett". Flaunt. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
{{cite web}}: Text "The Primal Need, The Imperative Output" ignored (help) - ↑ "Aniversarios (CCVI)". El Hurgador. December 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Pick of the Week, the LA Art Show Takes Place All Weekend, January 15–18 2015!". LA Art Party. January 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Fresh Faces: New Portraits by L.A. Artists Presented by Saatchi Art". Saatchi Art. March 18, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20242was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20243was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20244was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20245was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20246was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20247was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20248was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ "Studio Iron by Isamaya ffrench". Saatchi Yates. 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Studio Iron by Isamaya ffrench". Saatchi Yates. 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Tiarna (May 6, 2026). "Inside Studio Iron, Isamaya Ffrench's new dystopian dreamworld". Dazed. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Studio Iron by Isamaya ffrench". Saatchi Yates. 2026. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt20249was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ "Pick of the Week, the LA Art Show Takes Place All Weekend, January 15–18 2015!". LA Art Party. January 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Fresh Faces: New Portraits by L.A. Artists Presented by Saatchi Art". Saatchi Art. March 18, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
StudioIron2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Tiarna (May 6, 2026). "Inside Studio Iron, Isamaya Ffrench's new dystopian dreamworld". Dazed. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Pick of the Week, the LA Art Show Takes Place All Weekend, January 15–18 2015!". LA Art Party. January 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Fresh Faces: New Portraits by L.A. Artists Presented by Saatchi Art". Saatchi Art. March 18, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
Flaunt202410was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cite error: The named reference
StudioIron3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ "Black & White as a Metaphor for Humanity". Atelier Judith. January 12, 2018.[permanent dead link]