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In the second gallery, we are thrilled to present Expression of Structure, our second solo exhibition by Portland-based artist Chris Chandler.
Chandler takes inspiration from the geometric designs and bold typography of the Bauhaus and Constructivist movements, stepping in to splice and reconstruct their established visual language. He magnifies, transfigures and abstracts alphabetic characters, defamiliarizing the letters that we wield every day, allowing us to interpret them in a new way. The artist encourages viewers to challenge the perception of language as static and consider the nature of communication as perpetually constructed and rebuilt.
Chandler’s background in audio engineering is visually evident in these works. The peaks and plummets of his lines recall undulating sound frequency graphs, and his repeated patterns create a visual rhythm reminiscent of the drum beat of music. Chandler seems to toy with the volume in his compositions, immersing viewers in a visual language that is at once bold and brash while simultaneously restrained and refined.
Chandler presents a reconfiguration rather than a reconstruction of a familiar language, asserting that originality can be born from an existing foundation. In his compositions he invites the audience to witness his methodical approach—the grids, graphs, and the building blocks used to construct each piece become an integral part of the final composition rather than something hidden beneath.
Chris Chandler is a self-taught artist who fell into a passion for art and printmaking after acquiring his first Vandercook Press in 1996. He has exhibited his works across the Pacific Northwest, New York City, Los Angeles and Oklahoma, and he has been represented by Elizabeth Leach Gallery since 2022. In 2021 he was the recipient of both the Mohawk Paper’s Maker’s Grant and Stumptown Coffee’s Artist Fellowship. He lives in Portland, OR with his wife and two children and manages his personal studio, long-time named Neu Haus Press which houses his personal practice, collaborations and letterpress workshops.
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