surf in Biarritz (2015) Collages by Chriso

Chriso is a contemporary French artist whose creative journey has led him to explore the medium of collage. In the 1990s, alongside drawing and painting, Chriso discovered a natural inclination towards collage, sparked by the act of tearing up and pasting film posters salvaged from an old neighborhood cinema.

His fascination with street posters—bearing witness to cultural, political, and propagandistic currents—quickly became the cornerstone of his artistic expression. These ephemeral artifacts, weathered by time and layered with successive collages, served as an endless reservoir of inspiration for Chriso.

His process involves meticulously tearing, recovering, sorting, and peeling layers of paper to reveal fragments that catch his eye. These pieces of posters, disparate in their origins and content, are then meticulously glued and superimposed onto various supports. Through this method, Chriso creates unique works of art that combine colors, texts, and images that may initially seem unrelated, yet come together to form cohesive and captivating compositions.

In Chriso's hands, collage becomes more than just a technique—it becomes a means of storytelling and expression, offering a glimpse into the complex tapestry of urban life and the myriad narratives embedded within its layers.

• Nationality: FRANCE
• Date of birth : 1956
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary French Artists