Last summer, I was chosen by a panel consisting of JHU faculty, admin, students, and Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings to create a portrait of the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings to be displayed permanently/prominently at the University’s Milton S. Eisenhower Library. The piece was unveiled on 1/20/2022 at Henderson Hopkins Elementary/Middle School. Explore the links below for several stories on the unveiling and other events to follow.
https://hub.jhu.edu/.../elijah-cummings-portrait-unveiled/
I was recently invited by artist, Ernest Shaw to join him in the creation of a mural at Camden Yards that pays tribute to the Baltimore’s Negro League team (and the Negro Leagues overall). Special thanks to artist/muralist, Gaia and the Baltimore Orioles! Follow the link below to check out the interview Ernest and I did about the process of creating the mural.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CUYLYXLJBBF/?utm_medium=share_sheet
I was recently juried into the Visionary Art Collective’s online exhibition titled, Mirror in the Dark. The exhibition will be on view at https://www.visionaryartcollective.com/ beginning July 24th.
I was recently interviewed by host, Rob Lee on the Getting To The Truth In This Art Podcast. I had a really great time and I’m honored to have been included in the long list of great interviews on this podcast!
Check it out, here: https://gettingtothetruthinthisart.transistor.fm/episodes
I’m excited to announce that I’ve been selected to be included in New American Paintings: South, Issue #154. This year’s South Regional Competition was juried by Molly Boarati, Assistant Curator at Nasher Museum of Art, Duke University.
Screen shot of the notification email I received today.
The inability to see and spend time with loved ones (my family and friends) as much as I used to, caused by the current pandemic has definitely triggered heavy introspection. Though I’ve always valued my family and friends, I’ve come to be thankful for them to immeasurable levels during this time. My new series of drawings titled Prized Profiles explores the love and appreciation I have for those close to me…those who won’t hesitate to help, check on my well-being, or provide words of encouragement. Here’s a glimpse at the series…
Prized Profiles #2 in progress
Prized Profiles #1
In conjunction with my solo (online) exhibition titled Unsung, I was recently interviewed by Rosen-Clark Contemporary’s Eugene Clark. Click on the following link to hear the conversation.
Check out my virtual exhibition titled Unsung on Rosen-Clark Contemporary Gallery’s website. Click on the following link to check it out!
On 10-23-20, the 2020 Bethesda Painting Awards was reviewed in the Washington Post. Click on the following link to check it out!
This Saturday (10-24-20) from 7 PM-8 PM, I’ll be apart of a panel discussion titled Innovation, Isolation, & Imagination: Creating During a Pademic. Check it out on BOPA’s Facebook or YouTube page.
I was selected as 1 of 8 finalists in the 2020 Bethesda Painting Awards. The 8 finalists were selected from over 200 entrants this year. I’m extremely humbled by my selection as a finalist. The exhibition runs through October 31st.
In conjunction with the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Salon (via Catalyst Contemporary Gallery), my painting titled The Quandary 3 is featured on the BMA’s Instagram page. Click the following link to view the post:
Curated by Kirk Shannon-Butts, B2020 was inspired by Thelma Golden’s landmark 1994 Black Male exhibition, at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The (virtual) exhibition features the work of myself, Ram Brisueno, Walter Cruz, Kayla Fryer, Andrew Gray, Moses Jeune, Xavier Xcel Lightfoot, Charles Mason III, Derrick Smith, McKinley Wallace III, and Will Watson. Follow this link to check it out: https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/1999504/b2020
In conjunction with Catalyst Contemporary Gallery, my piece titled The Quandary 3 is being displayed virtually on the Baltimore Museum of Art’s, Salon page. Follow the link below to check out the great arrangement of work Catalyst Contemporary Gallery and other Baltimore contemporary art galleries have put together!
Check out my interview on the Studio Noize Podcast, where me and artist Jamaal Barber talk about my grad school experience, how my work has changed, and share memories of the late Tamara Natalie Madden. Follow this link to listen: https://www.studionoizepodcast.com/episodes/2020/6/26/growth-and-progress-w-artist-christopher-batten
In conjunction with Catalyst Contemporary Gallery, I was able to create a piece honoring the memory of George Floyd and the countless others who have died at the hands of police violence. The piece is on display in one of the gallery’s front windows.
I hope everyone is well out there! Here’s a pic of what’s currently on my easel. My goal is to have this 60in x 48in piece done before the end of this month and uploaded to my No Play Fighting body of work, soon after. I’ve also been doing more Aaron Douglas inspired abstract paintings, that I plan on showcasing on the site soon.
Hi everyone…over the past month and a half, I’ve been making small abstractions inspired by the work of the late, Aaron Douglas. I’m very excited to see how these pieces will affect not only the abstract work I make from here, but the figurative work also.
I have a very interesting piece that I recently started. It’s looking like it will step foot into surrealist territory. Here’s a peak …look for it to be posted in The Quandary and Related Works soon…
I hope everyone has been well! I’ll have work included in an upcoming group show at Goucher College’s Rosenberg Gallery. The opening reception for the show will be Thursday February 13th from 6pm to 9pm.
Anatomy of Living Color is an exhibition of Baltimore-based artists whose work explores the power of black identity. Creating a conversation around culture, academia and shared experience. Anatomy of Living Color is a student-initiated show and series of events organized by Olivia Douglas as part of Goucher's celebration of Black History Month.
The exhibition features work by
Nina Q. Allen, Christopher Batten, Markele Cullins, Walter Cruz, Rob Ferrell, and Monica Ikegwu