Chris Ellis - Artist

Chris Ellis was born in Albury, 1961, spending most of his childhood on a farm, he started drawing before he could walk and given his first set of oil paints at the age of nine. 

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When Chris wasn't helping on the farm he could be found in the workshop making model boats from scraps of wood, bows and arrows or some other weapon from steel or out in the paddock painting the landscape. 

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Chris studied Fine Art at Caulfield Institute of Technology between 1980-81. In 1982 he started farming in the Henty district and despite the work load on the farm he constructed a studio space allowing him to continue to paint, time permitting. 

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In 2010 Chris had his first solo exhibition at Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery which depicted agricultural patterns in the landscape. After the death of his wife Elizabeth in 2012 Chris retired from active farming and moved to Albury where he now practices as a full time artist.

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Since then Chris has consistently produced work for exhibitions and private sale including oil on canvas and watercolour works on paper featuring Indian ink and gouache. He has participated in several group exhibitions including Art from the Flinders Ranges, Melbourne in 2014 and several solo exhibitions at Wodonga Artspace and a solo exhibition at Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) in 2015 called Moments on the Murray. 

 

His work was selected to hang in the Hume Bank Art Prize in 2014 and 2015. He also won his first art prize in the Trinity Acquisitive Prize in 2014. 

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Aqua Luminous followed this up in March 2016 at MAMA and in 2017 Chris had a solo portrait exhibition Face to face at Wodonga Art Space, then another solo show in September 2018, Riverine Reflections at the Malvern Arts Society gallery. Chris continued to produce work for his 2019 GIGS Art Gallery and Studio exhibition solo, Wetland Wandering.

 

Across 2019, 2020 and 2021 his work was repeatedly selected for group exhibitions at Art Partners Australia (APA), Gallery One and Two. It was well received and lead to two solo exhibitions the first in September 2020, Creative in Confinement and again in February 2022 Above the Horizon.

 

Chris's work was also chosen for special exhibitions curated by Art Partners Australia amongst other high profile living Australian artists, featured in the heritage dining hall at The Albury Club.

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In contrast to painting Wetland landscapes over the years Chris continues to love revisiting the awe-inspiring deserts of outback Australia. This re-examination keeps his work fresh and informed of the seemingly endless light play possibilities within his oeuvre.

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Chris continues to produce paintings and works on paper for exhibition, private collections and commissions.

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General and sales enquiries can be directed to his studio on 0427 200 071.

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