Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Christian Anderson.
Hi Chad Christian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Chicago. In 2004, I started painting Live in my loft where I would host poetry slams, it was called Lyricist Loft. From there I took that idea to the nightclub Funky Buddha Lounge where I would paint live to DJs and or guest musical performance artists. I joined a group Chicago Afro Beat Project (with notable off and on again member Tony Allen of Fela Kuti) and would go on tour with them as an onstage member of the band, painting live during their sets. Also did the same with select shows with Chicago’s own The Cool Kids. Then joining London’s own Lady Sovereign while she was on tour with Gwen Stefani. So, my start was very performance painting driven. From painting cars Live at Lollapolooza to body painting models to canvas. I collaborated with a lot of brands as well during this time doing this. Music being the driving force behind my art practice.
From there, I started and was the frontman for a band called The Streets On Fire. Our music was fuzzed out post-punk with good beats that kept the dance floor moving. Taking us on tours and traveling to CMJ Fest and SXSW Festival. When I had time off from doing shows with the band, I would also do self-produced solo art shows called Villain Affairs. At these events, I would do a body of work (in my studio) in weeks before then host an auction-driven show in this speakeasy I had called The Cooler in Chicago’s Fulton Market District. In 2012, I got my own gallery space at 515 N Hasted named Villain Affair where I work Live in the window daily, giving the passerby’s a behind-the-scenes look of me working through ideas and being able to come in and purchase my work. At this time I was also attending The School Of The Art Institute of Chicago.
In January 2017, I moved to Downtown Los Angeles. For the first time in my career, I really spent time in my studio reinventing my style and taking on private commissions. Soon, I was able to do my Art events at A boutique hotel called Tuck Hotel. I did several of these from 2017 to when the pandemic happened. Here in LA I also have exhibited in group shows at Show Gallery, and solo shows with Carlos Antonio Gallery as well as show work in Una Malan which is a Design Show Room for high-end furniture, textiles, and lighting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Well, it really depends on what kind of tires you have. There’s definitely been peaks and valleys along the way, Though these ultimately show you what you are made of.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Initially, I was one of the pioneers of Live Painting, then reinvented as a musician and then merged my interests together. I am an artist. A visual artist, a performer, and a singer. I specialize in paintings; my work tends to focus on portraiture and figurative work and within those lines I deal with identity, movement, mental health, light, and darkness.
I am proud of the community of friends, family, supporters, and collectors I have occurred over the years. Getting them all together and seeing different people from every walk of life come together and become friends and make a great room is the best feeling. Sharing stages over the years with incredible artists and connecting with collectors around the world also makes me proud. Lastly, inventing a technique that has become a trademark in my work, the technique involves taking liquid acrylic paint and converting it to a physical “Flex” that enables me to be playful, precise, and elegantly vague within the work I create. It is a new way to look at the paint.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I will always add GOOD music and to be honest, cooking makes me really happy. I fell in love with it during the pandemic. I love going and getting ingredients and creating something tasty and making it visually striking. That hosting good people. Guess it’s not much different than making art and doing shows, it’s performative to me. Only difference is, when cooking, people get to eat what I create.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: theartofchadwick
- Facebook: Chadwick Makes
