Chris Engman, *Storm*, 2023. Pigment print. 50 x 36 in (127 x 91.4 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

Written and Photo Edited by Wenjie (Demi) Zhao

Copy Edited by Kee’nan Haggen

Lines unconfined, colors ablaze, Chris Engman’s latest exhibition Prism is seen anew through the artist’s lens and paintbrush in tandem with his 4-year-old son Elio. Crafted with eclectic mediums, from dollar store children's paint to high-quality acrylics, oils, and pastels, twelve works showcased at Luis De Jesus Los Angeles unveil a kaleidoscopic vision of Engman’s artistic melding of photography, drawings, and paintings.

Unburdened hearts and careless spirits are set free in this lighthearted exhibition. Expressions splash through paint-drips, untethered yet filled with intent. Crayons and paints wield a chromatic palette, as dreamscapes take form on this impromptu stage. With a scribbled garden and an ocean of play, the joy of art-making visually permeates all who encounter Engman’s works.

Chris Engman, *Play Room (large)*, 2021. Pigment print. 57.5 x 74.5 in (146.1 x 189.2 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

Chris Engman, *Prism*, 2023. Pigment print. 36 x 48 in (91.4 x 121.9 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

“A prism breaks light into its constituent parts, revealing colors invisible to the human eye. It allows us to see, in other words, what is present but not perceived. This show is titled Prism in part for its vibrant colors. More importantly, because a camera is a prism. And most importantly, because my son is my prism. The world that I see through his eyes is new and strange, terrifying and beautiful. How wonderful is that?” — Chris Engman

Chris Engman, *Mammoth*, 2020. Edition 2 of 6 + 2 AP. Archival pigment print. 41.5 x 41.5 in (105.4 x 105.4 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

Chris Engman, *Wave*, 2022. Pigment print. 36 x 48 in (91.4 x 121.9 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

Engman’s artistic creations warp reality, urging contemplation of perception’s core. Chaos harmonizes in his domain, where geometry, shapes, and calculations share space. In Prism, he metamorphoses ordinary spaces into ethereal landscapes that dance with light, hue, and texture.

The artist’s skilled touch steers the viewer from the subtlest hint of color to a vibrant crescendo of chromatic splendor. Engman’s works offer a feast of visual delights, as photographs meld with sculptural elements, blurring the lines between two and three dimensions. This splintering light and whimsical pigmentation weave into a million fragments of brilliant color. The juxtaposition of geometric patterns and organic forms sparks a dynamic tension that encourages exploration and reflection. It is as if Engman has distilled the very essence of curiosity and bottled it within the gallery walls.

Chris Engman, *Lightning*, 2022. Pigment print. 38 x 48 in (96.5 x 121.9 cm).
© Chris Engman. Courtesy of the artist and Luis De Jesus Los Angeles

Through the power of art, Engman has unlocked a portal to a realm of endless potential, where the line between reality and illusion dissolves, leaving only wonder in its wake. It is a fluid odyssey where pigments intersect and paintings converge with photography. These wayward droplets guide us on unexpected twists and turns. Engman’s heartfelt rumination on observing his toddler’s art-making process unveils the innate wisdom and inspiration drawn from a child’s unbridled creativity. By observing the carefree way in which his child wields a paintbrush, Chris Engman uncovers new possibilities and techniques to infuse his artistic practice, embracing the wild, untamed energy that drives creativity.