CV
Photo by Vedad Divovic, 2020
Chris Drange was born in Köthen (Anhalt), Germany in 1983. He studied at the International Center of Photography in New York, at the Art Students League of New York, at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig and at the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg. Drange received a BFA from the University of Fine Arts in Hamburg in 2017 and a MFA in 2019 from the same university. He lives and works in Hamburg and Berlin.
Drange is best known for his large-format post-digital portraits and realist oil painting artworks. Drange is a pioneer in modern contemporary art that depicts self-identification around the mood and style of social media culture.
Drange specializes in court painting of modern-day influencers. His work is based on giving the digital world (photographs) a reality, by adding emojis and by painting with oil medium on canvas. His work has been featured in several exhibitions and magazines including Museum der bildende Künste Leipzig, Kunstforum International, Numéro Berlin, New York Photography Awards Exhibition, Museum für moderne Kunst, Bremen.
Drange has published two books titled Hecho En Socialismo and Relics. He is also the recipient of Publication Grant of Materialverlag of University of Fine Arts Hamburg, and the Purple Earth Foundation Grant.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2021 Annka Kultys Gallery, solo exhibition (forthcoming), London, UK
2021 König Galerie, group exhibition (forthcoming), Berlin, Germany
2021 TickTack solo exhibition (forthcoming), Antwerp, Belgium
2020 DER RIVER, Baumwollspinnerei, Leipzig, Germany
2020 LINK IN BIO, MdbK Leipzig, Group Exhibition, Leipzig, Germany
2019 NEW PAINTINGS, HFBK Graduation Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2019 CLASS OF ANSELM REYLE, HFBK Annual Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2018 CLASS OF ANSELM REYLE, HFBK Annual Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2017 KLEINE GESELLSCHAFT FÜR PROFANE RELIQUIEN, Kleine Gesellschaft für Kunst und Kultur, Hamburg, Germany
2016 HECHO EN SOCIALISMO, Konform, Lemgo, Germany
2016 WIMMELBILDER, HFBK Annual Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2014 CRASH, Photo Bastei, Zürich, Switzerland
2013 RAUM1, F40, Berlin, Germany
2012 DIE HAUT DER STADT, Fenster61, Berlin, Germany
2012 TIME IN SPACE, New York Photography Awards Exhibition, Brooklyn, New York, USA
2012 PASSAGES, Salon Separee, Berlin, Germany
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2017 RELICS, 112 pp., 97 ills., Hatje Cantz Verlag, ISBN 978-3-7757-4362-4
2015 HECHO EN SOCIALISMO – SOCIALISM TODAY IN VENEZUELA, 160 pp., 149 ills., Kerber Verlag, ISBN 978-3-7356-0096-7
2014 NYPH Journal, Volume 1, TIME IN SPACE, powerHouse Books, ISBN 978-1-5768-7664-0
EDUCATION
2019 MFA from Hochschule für bildende Künste (HFBK), Hamburg, Germany
2017 BFA from University of Fine Arts in Hamburg (HFBK), Hamburg, Germany
2015-19 studies at University of Fine Arts in Hamburg (HFBK), Hamburg, Germany
2013-14 studies at Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig (HGB), Leipzig, Germany
2007-08 studies at School of the International Center of Photography (ICP), New York, USA
2007-08 studies at Art Students League of New York, USA