From cars to the web: an artistic discovery trip
Chris KleineThe artistic path was anything but conventional. While he has always identified as an artist, for a large part of his first life, painting has remained more passionate than a profession. His career initially turned around automotive trade, where he worked for after-sales sale for various car brands, ranging from manufacturers like Ford and Citroën to luxury names such as Porsche and Maserati. Thanks to these roles, Klein has forged connections with racing pilots and car collectors, taking it to create conventional and high performance vehicle paintings. Some of these works wore the signatures of the teams behind the cars, and his talent even earned him an invitation to the home of the legendary Formula 1 driver Sir Stirling Moss.
His transition to professional art has grown when he found work as a picturesque artist in theater and cinema. This change not only allowed him a stable income by painting, but also widened his creative limits. Unlike traditional works of art intended for longevity, the panoramic pieces in the film were designed for temporary use, often thrown after the tour of a scene. This impermanence encouraged Klein to experiment, releasing the constraints of meticulous details and allowing a more expressive and abstract approach. The influence of this experience remains obvious in its subsequent work, where a balance between precision and fluidity defines its style.
The move to Canada has brought new opportunities, both personally and professionally. Setting up in Montreal after marrying his wife, Linda, he quickly found work in the city's flourishing film industry, contributing to Hollywood productions. The theater has remained part of his life, including projects for Cirque du Soleil. However, as his family life was a priority, his personal work was temporarily suspended. It was only when he accepted the role of the head of panoramic art at the Stratford Festival – North of America the largest classical theater festival – that his trip as an independent artist really took off.
Chris Klein: The costumes that have transformed a career
The Stratford Festival is home to one of the most extensive collections of theatrical costumes in Canada, and Klein's workshop was positioned right next to this treasure. Passing in front of the clothing racks developed daily, he often stopped to admire them, capturing countless photographs. It did not take long before he felt forced to paint these complex designs, believing that they deserved to be immortalized on canvas. Initially imagining only a handful of pieces, he quickly achieved the depth of the inspiration they provided. Over the years, his series of costumes has increased to more than a hundred paintings, without a sign of slowdown.
At the beginning, Klein's works found an audience in Montreal, but when the Agora de Stratford gallery expressed its interest, it marked a turning point in his career. His paintings strongly resonated with collectors, leading to a solo exhibition and an increase in demand. Sales have increased and, as his reputation widens, he found a representation in Montreal and Toronto, winning artistic competitions that have further raised his profile. The invitations to present his work followed, extending his scope to Miami, New York and even Lisbon.
The momentum was strong enough for him to leave his position at the Stratford festival, opting for a part -time role at the National Arts Center in Ottawa to focus more on painting. However, even it turned out to be too limiting, and Klein finally went to a full -time artistic talent. A decisive moment came when a prestigious New York gallery contacted representing it, presenting its work to a wider international audience. Although the gallery then closed its doors because of the owner's health problems, the exhibition had already propelled Klein's art to new heights, solidifying its place on the high -end art market.
Theatrical realism and recovered beauty
Although Klein resists being limited to a single artistic label, his work is most often associated with realism, often limiting hyperrealism. His vast work includes landscapes, figurative pieces and abstract compositions, but it is his paintings of costumes inspired by the theater that have defined his career for 15 years. Despite their importance, another recurring theme in his art is the representation of recovered objects – proven cars, thrown materials and industrial leftovers. Although these works have taken a rear seat due to the overwhelming demand for its costume paintings, they remain a passion, presenting its ability to find decomposition beauty.
His approach to costume painting has evolved over time. Initially, he was targeting a loose and almost impressionist style when he is seen closely. However, while he was gaining representation of galleries specializing in realism, his work has become more refined and meticulously detailed while retaining a certain pictorial quality after a more in -depth inspection. His subjects extended beyond the theater, plunging into the collections of historical museums and even the holding of royal ceremonies, including archived pieces at the Palais de Kensington. In addition, his work now incorporates elements of fashion and pop culture, demonstrating his adaptability and his artistic vision constantly expanding.
Klein's influences are deeply rooted in the dramatic use of light and shadow, a characteristic of artists such as Caravaggio and Joseph Wright of derby. Having grown up in London, he frequently visited the National Gallery, where he spent hours studying masterpieces like an experience on a bird in the air pump and the supper in Emmaus. The way these paintings seemed to emerge from the web through lighting techniques captured it, a fascination that continues to shape its own artistic practice. Whenever he returns to London, revisiting these works remains a source of inspiration.
Chris Klein: The art of the emblematic scene and fashion legends
One of the most important projects of Klein concerned the painting of the costumes of the opera ghost, a process which required more than a year of negotiations to guarantee the necessary authorizations. His perseverance has borne fruit, leading to a solo exhibition in the Chelsea district of New York, where a fortuitous meeting opened another extraordinary door. A connection of the really useful group of Andrew Lloyd Webber attended his exhibition and suggested to paint the costumes of the Lion King. While initially rejecting the idea as improbable due to the complexity of the rights guarantee, Klein was quickly presented to Tom Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical.
Schumacher, impressed by Klein's work, saw the opportunity to incorporate his paintings into the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Lion King in London. Shortly after, Klein received an invitation to contribute to Disney's Behind the Curtain Brochure, a milestone which he has not fully grasped when he visited their headquarters in New York and saw his works of art in good place on the coverage. The experience led to participation in London's birthday, where his work has become part of the great celebration. The original painting now lies at Disney headquarters, marking a rare artistic tribute to long -standing production.
More recently, Klein launched an exciting collaboration with the legendary fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. Renowned for dressing icons like Princess Diana, Diana Ross and Freddie Mercury, Rhodes gave Klein access to her vast archives, allowing her to freely paint his collections. His fascination for the flamboyant outfits of Freddie Mercury led him to another ambitious project – Combining the historic wardrobe of the Queen.
Thanks to Anne Brummer, co-founder of Save Me Trust de Brian May, Klein had access to the personal collection of the guitarist's stage costumes, as well as some pieces formerly worn by Mercury. Recognizing the importance of this project, he proposed to give part of the sales of paint in the Save Me Trust, an idea that May and Brummer have fully supported. The process required in -depth legal authorizations, but after overcoming these obstacles, Klein began to give life to these legendary costumes on canvas. With two paintings finished and more in progress, this current series is one of its most significant efforts, mixing the history of rock with its distinctive artistic style.
The artistic evolution of Chris Klein, from automotive trade to picturesque artistic talent to the world's worldwide painter, reflects an inflexible passion for narration through a visual form. Whether the capture of the greatness of theatrical costumes or the haunting attraction of thrown machines, his work continues to captivate the public worldwide, proving that art, just like the subjects he paints, can be both timeless and transformer.
