EDUCATION
2017- Master of Fine Arts, LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting, Baltimore, MD
- Certificate in the College Teaching of Art, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
2006- Bachelor of Fine Arts, Illustration, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2000~2001- Foundation Studies- Columbus College of Art and Design
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023- The Tie That Binds, Harmony Hall Arts Center, Fort Washington, MD
2022- The Eye of the Tiger (curated by Kirk Shannon-Butts), The Bromo Seltzer Tower, Baltimore, MD
- Embracing, Eubie Blake Cultural Center, Baltimore, MD
2020- Unsung, Rosen-Clark Contemporary Gallery (virtual), Detroit, MI
- Works by Christopher Batten, The Detroit Public Library (virtual), Detroit, MI
2019- No Play Fighting (curated by Thomas James), The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
- Works by Christopher Batten, BOPA Conference Room, Baltimore, MD
2015- Subliminal Messages, Cass Café, Detroit, MI
2008- Rediscovering the Feminine Principle, NCA Gallery, Detroit, MI
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023- Skilled Labor: Black Realism in Detroit, Cranbrook Art Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Artscape: B23, Baltimore, MD
- Art on Paper New York (Booth D13, represented by Catalyst Contemporary), New York, NY
- 2023 Summer Show, C Grimaldis Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- Paint Night (curated by Sarah McCann and Sara Kaltwasser), Gallery CA, Baltimore, MD
2022- American Visions II: The Art of Collecting, Brown and Juanita C. Ford Gallery (Wayne County Community College), Detroit, MI
- Portfolio IV: Standard Time, NCA Gallery, Detroit, MI
- Art Miami 2022 (Booth AM 544, represented by Catalyst Contemporary), Miami, FL
- Manifest Presence, Catalyst Contemporary, Baltimore, MD
- Detroit Expat Artists: Homecoming (curated by Stephanie James and Elizabeth Youngblood), Detroit Artists Market, Detroit MI
- Conserving Legacies: Past, Present, and Future, Ellington-White Contemporary, Fayetteville, NC
- Celebrating Diversity (curated by Eugene Clark), Padzieski Gallery, Dearborn, MI
2021- Mirror in the Dark (curated by Jauna Williams), Visionary Art Collective (virtual)
2020- 2020 Bethesda Painting Awards, Gallery B, Bethesda, MD
- B2020 (curated by Kirk Shannon-Butts), Baltimore Office of Promotion and Arts (virtual), Baltimore, MD
- Anatomy of Living Color, Rosenberg Gallery (Goucher College), Baltimore, MD
-The Notable Letter Hh: Annual Resident Exhibition (curated by Sheena Morrison), The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
2019- Eye to Eye, Catalyst Contemporary Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- Annual Highlandtown Arts District Exhibition, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
- Drawing Down, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore, MD
- Weaving Visions: Annual Resident Exhibition, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
2018- Baker: Off the Web, The Peale Center, Baltimore, MD
- Annual Figurative Drawing and Painting Exhibition, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Selinsgrove, PA
- Launch (curated by Alex French), Function Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- Detroit Noir, Norwest Gallery, Detroit, MI
- Our Voices Will Be Heard (curated by Sarah McCann), The Modell Lyric, Baltimore, MD
2017- Personal Locale: Annual Resident Exhibition, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
- Annual Figurative Drawing and Painting Exhibition, Lore Degenstein Gallery, Selinsgrove, PA
- MICA Grad Show 3 (Confronting Oppression), Sheila and Richard Riggs Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- Spectrum, Gradex Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2016- LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting Fall Show, Fox 3 Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- Isolation/Ostracization: Gradex Member Show, Lazurus Center Gallery, Baltimore, MD
-15 Steps: Perspectives in Drawing, Red Bull Arts, Detroit, MI
- Fathers Brothers Sons, Space Camp Gallery, Baltimore, MD
2015- Niether/Or (LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting Fall Show), Shiela and Richard Riggs Gallery, Baltimore, MD
- ISAP 6th Annual International Open Online Show, www.isap-online.com
- Red Bull House of Art Alumni Exhibition, Red Bull Arts, Detroit, MI
- Margins, Virgil H. Carr Arts Center, Detroit, MI
2014- Monster Drawing Rally, MOCAD, Detroit, MI
- 100x50 Exhibition, Padzieski Gallery, Dearborn MI
- Refractions, Live Coal Gallery, Detroit, MI
- 2014 African World Festival (featured visual artist), Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI
- Michigan Fine Arts Competition (2nd Place Award Recipient), Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Center, Birmingham, MI
- Real People 2014, Old Court House Arts Center, Woodstock, IL
- Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series Detroit Regional Semifinal Exhibition, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI
- Forecast: Overflow, Brown and Jaunita C. Ford Gallery (Wayne County Community College), Detroit, MI
2013- Cycle Five, Red Bull Arts, Detroit, MI
- The Detroit Show, Brown and Jaunita C. Ford Gallery (Wayne County Community College), Detroit, MI
- The Contemporary African American Author Lecture Series Special Exhibit, Marygrove College, Detroit, MI
- 10 Big Ones, NCA Gallery, Detroit MI
- Black Detroit 21, U of M Detroit Works Gallery, Detroit MI
2012- Portfolio IV, NCA Gallery, Detroit, MI
- New Paintings, NCA Gallery, Detroit, MI
- Great American Artists: Branches, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI
- When Light Meets Life, San Antonio Public Library (Carver Branch), San Antonio, TX
2011- Dirty Sensibilities, CCCADI, New York, NY
- Shout: A Tribute to Gospel, Avisca Fine Art, Marietta, GA
- The Sketchbook Project/Tour 2011, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn NY
- Eyes-A-Wide, Compuware World Headquarters, Detroit, MI
2010- Hammonds House Museum Annual Art Auction, Atlanta, GA
2009- Collector’s Choice, NCA Gallery, Detroit, MI
- National Black Fine Arts Show, New York, NY
2008- Embrace, Mason Murer Gallery, Atlanta, GA
- Heritage, JRainey Gallery, Detroit MI
- National Black Fine Arts Show, New York NY
SELECTED PRESS
2022- JHU-Commissioned Portrait Honoring Elijah Cummings Unveiled at Henderson Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University Hub, January 20th
- New American Paintings, South: Issue #154, January 22nd
2021- Getting to the Truth in this Art Podcast, July 2nd
2020- Studio Noize Podcast, episode 92: Growth and Progress with Christopher Batten
- In the Galleries: Juried competition puts regional artists at center stage, The Washington Post, October 3rd
2019- For the Culture, hosted by Faraji Muhammad, WEAA 88.9 Baltimore, 8-20-19 (HR-2)
- International Review of African American Art, Volume 28, No. 4, Hampton University Press
2016- 15 Steps: Perpectives in Drawing @ Red Bull House of Art, Sarah Rose Sharp, Detroit Art Review, June 27th
2012- The Art of Transformation, Ryan Patrick Hooper, Hour Detroit Magazine, July 12th
- Grand River Creative Corridor Will Bring Murals, Makeover to Detroit Avenue, David Sands, Huffington Post, July 17th
SELECTED AWARDS/RESIDENCIES
2021- Portrait of Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, commissioned by the Johns Hopkins University Portrait Initiative Committee, Baltimore, MD
- New American Paintings, South: Issue #154, Curated by Molly Boarati, Assistant Curator at Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University (Newsstand Dates: June 2021/July 2021)
2020- Finalist, Bethesda Painting Awards, Bethesda, MD
2017-2020- Artist in Residence, The Creative Alliance, Baltimore, MD
2015-2017- AIGA Worldstudio Scholarship, AIGA, New York, NY
- Leslie King Hammond Graduate Award, MICA, Baltimore, MD
- LeRoy E. Hoffberger Merit Scholarship, MICA, Baltimore, MD
2014- Second Place, Michigan Fine Art Competition, Birmingham, MI
- Alumni Artist in Residence, Red Bull Arts, Detroit, MI
2013- Artist in Residence, Red Bull Arts, Detroit, MI
2006- General Motors Scholarship, Detroit, MI
2002- CCS Scholarship, College for Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
2000- Dean’s Award Scholarship, Columbus College of Art and Design, Columbus, OH
PUBLIC/PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Gordon Feinblatt LLC, Baltimore, MD
The Green Family Art Foundation, Dallas, TX
Kaiser Permanente, Timonium, MD
The Ambassador Fine Art Collection, Detroit, MI
Bedrock Management Services LLC/ The Detroit Art Collection, Detroit, MI
Broadmead Retirement Community, Cockeysville, MD
Marygrove College, Detroit, MI
Mr. John Bolden, Detroit, MI
Mr. Duane Belin, Detroit, MI
Ms. Marian Stephens, Detroit, MI
Ms. Shirley Woodson, Detroit, MI
Mrs. Linda Whitaker, Detroit, MI
Mr. and Mrs. Leon Smalls, Halethorpe, MD
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021- PRESENT- ADJUNCT VISUAL ARTS FACULTY, Baltimore City Community College
INTRO TO AFRICAN AMERICAN VISUAL ARTS: Supported students in developing an emerging level of knowledge about the contributions African Americans have made to the Modern and Contemporary Art canons.
BEGINNING PAINTING: Supported students in developing a basic command of the acrylic medium and an emerging understanding of value, color, and gesture.
2019- PRESENT- DRAWING FACULTY, MICA Pre-College Program
FIGURE DRAWING: Supported students in developing command of fundamental approaches to representing the human figure.
2018-PRESENT- FACULTY IN VISUAL ARTS, Bard High School Early College Baltimore
DRAWING AND PAINTING: Supported students in developing command of the basic elements of art and principles of design.
2015-2017- GRADUATE TEACHING INTERN, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD
LIFE DRAWING: Improved students’ ability to observe the figure and compose drawings of the figure on a two-dimensional surface.
PAINTING 1: Supported students in developing command of the oil painting medium and supported their development in understanding value and color.
SOPHOMORE ILLUSTRATION 1: Contributed insight into methods students could employ to begin to formulate their own style/voice as illustrators.
CRITICAL INQUIRY: Supported students in discovering the link between critical thinking and artistic practice.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2022- Visiting Artist/Critic, Maryland Institute College of Art Undergraduate Painting Department (October 10th)
- Guest Juror, 2022 Annual Juried Student Art + Design Exhibition, Harford County Community College
2019- Visiting Artist/Lecturer, Harford County Community College (March 28th)
2018- Visiting Artist/Lecturer, Towson University (November 29th)
2013-2015 Teaching Artist, Living Arts Detroit, Detroit, MI
2012-2013 Art Instructor, Chapel Hill Children’s and Youth Art Center, Detroit, MI
2011-2012 Children’s Art Instructor, Virgil H. Carr Arts Center, Detroit, MI