Chris Wolston first solo museum show
Chris Wolston is headlining his highly anticipated first solo museum show, the definitive solo exhibition titled “Profile in Ecstasy,” which is proudly presented by the Dallas Contemporary. Organized by guest curator Glenn Adamson, this major exhibition defines Wolston’s unique comtemporary realism. The artist, who splits his time between New York and Medellín, Colombia, works across a wide interdisciplinary spectrum including furniture, lighting, installation, and sculpture.
Wolston’s striking material palette is central to the solo exhibition. Woven rattan furniture, reinterpreting figurative sculpture, is a major focus. These pieces simultaneously support local artisan economies. Monumental terracotta forms, carved from clay blocks and fired, offer an earthy permanence.
Lightweight aluminum pieces, cast from foam, were anodized in reflective, iridescent hues. The artist treated bronze furniture with rainbow patinas, bringing the surface to life with a torch flame. Additionally, handwoven carpets, produced at an atelier in Marrakech, are on display. The motifs on these rugs were freely interpreted by the weavers, inspired by warped calla lily designs. The entire aesthetic is a testament to the artist’s radical approach to design, seen clearly at the Dallas Contemporary platform.
The exhibition space, hosting this major first solo museum show, was built upon four platforms, evocative of a fashion show runway. This installation is accompanied by video works from his husband, filmmaker David Sierra, which consist of movement and light. The most striking centerpiece of the profile in ‘ecstasy’ is a luminous portrait of pop icon Grace Jones. This portrait was designed as an illuminated fountain rippling with water.
Chris Wolston’s works draw inspiration from Art Nouveau, pre-Columbian symbolism, and architectural excess. The artist’s pieces from this landmark solo exhibition are now part of several international permanent collections. These prestigious institutions include the Museum of American Glass, The Museo de Antioquia in Medellín, the National Museum of Qatar, the Odunpazarı Modern Museum (OMM) in Turkey, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
Chris Wolston first solo museum show
Photo Credits
Dallas Comtemporary
