Overview

With deadpan finesse, Chris Ballantyne graphically renders the landscape of parking lots, fences, jetties, housing developments and excavations. Despite and because of the simplicity of his style, the works are spatially and narratively complex and ambiguous.

 

In his second solo exhibition in Hosfelt’s San Francisco gallery, Ballantyne explores the in-betweenness of place in works ranging from large-scale murals to small-scale india ink drawings. Are the structures he represents being built, or are they deteriorating? Are the places full possibility, or pointless folly? They’re empty, quirky — even absurd — and somewhat romantic. As well as anxiety-provoking in their depiction of the emotional detachment of American culture.

 

Chris Ballantyne received his MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and resides in Brooklyn. His work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York as well as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Works
  • Chris Ballantyne Wave (Trail), 2010 acrylic on panel 36 x 48 inches 91.4 x 121.9 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Wave (Trail), 2010
    acrylic on panel
    36 x 48 inches
    91.4 x 121.9 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Untitled House (Mobile), 2009 india ink on paper 12 x 16 inches 30.5 x 40.6 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Untitled House (Mobile), 2009
    india ink on paper
    12 x 16 inches
    30.5 x 40.6 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Intersection (Empty Lot), 2009 india ink on paper 12.25 x 16.25 inches 31.1 x 41.3 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Intersection (Empty Lot), 2009
    india ink on paper
    12.25 x 16.25 inches
    31.1 x 41.3 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Untitled Backyard (Maze), 2009 india ink on paper 12 x 16 inches 30.5 x 40.6 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Untitled Backyard (Maze), 2009
    india ink on paper
    12 x 16 inches
    30.5 x 40.6 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Wave, 2009 india ink on paper 12.25 x 16.25 inches 31.1 x 41.3 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Wave, 2009
    india ink on paper
    12.25 x 16.25 inches
    31.1 x 41.3 cms
  • Sculpture of the artist’s cast knee which is covered in a denim like blanket to resemble a giant section of a leg wearing fitted jeans with a hole at the knee. At the knee joint the large frayed hole reveals the underlying body cast which has multiple red and various sized paint circles alluding to the image of a freshly skinned knee
    Tim Hawkinson
    Skinned Knee, 2009
    acrylic, blanket, bond, mop, resin, and rope
    74 x 27 x 39 in
    188 x 68.6 x 99.1 cm
  • Chris Ballantyne Plateau, 2009 acrylic on panel 36 x 48 inches 91.4 x 121.9 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Plateau, 2009
    acrylic on panel
    36 x 48 inches
    91.4 x 121.9 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Waterfall, 2009 acrylic on panel 24 x 48 inches 61 x 121.9 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Waterfall, 2009
    acrylic on panel
    24 x 48 inches
    61 x 121.9 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Hillside (Homes), 2010 india ink on paper 12.25 x 16.25 inches 31.1 x 41.3 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Hillside (Homes), 2010
    india ink on paper
    12.25 x 16.25 inches
    31.1 x 41.3 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Wooden Fence (Jetty), 2009 acrylic on panel 36 x 48 inches 91.4 x 121.9 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Wooden Fence (Jetty), 2009
    acrylic on panel
    36 x 48 inches
    91.4 x 121.9 cms
  • Chris Ballantyne Point (Sea Wall), 2009 acrylic on panel 16 x 24 inches 40.6 x 61 cms
    Chris Ballantyne
    Point (Sea Wall), 2009
    acrylic on panel
    16 x 24 inches
    40.6 x 61 cms
Installation Views