Berlin-based artist Christopher Kieling (b. 1988) graduated from Central Saint Martins with a BA in Graphic Design. He concluded his 4 year stay in London with a solo exhibition at The Book Club in 2012. Chris began his artistic career with ink drawings and printmaking, then transitioned to oil and acrylic painting. His background in design combined with his passion for mark-making come together to create a visual experience of bold compositions and technical finesse. 

Born into a family of stage actors, theater and set design shaped Christopher’s perspective at a young age. Throughout his artistic career these influences became evident. His composition are often stage-like; creating a dialogue between his protagonists and their surroundings. Props and expressive gestures compose a narrative which the viewer is challenged to untangle. 

Inspired by contemporary painters like Neo Rauch and Euan Uglow, Kieling begins to explore figurative compositions in 2014. His paintings quickly grew in complexity as Christopher focuses more on texture and materials, pushing the boundaries of realism. This continues in his excursion into still life and landscape painting. 

Christopher gained traction with his Sierra paintings. A series of works playfully capturing the Zeitgeist during the first Covid19 lockdown in 2020. These meticulously planned paintings caught the attention of international galleries and resulted in an inaugural solo exhibition at Grove Square Galleries in London the same year. 

With bolstered confidence and a strong gallery partner, Christopher continues to develop a visual language of his own; combining all the techniques he learned along the way and pushing himself to his full potential as a painter. 

Kieling’s work has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions including Sierra, Grove Square Galleries, London (2020); Sothebeez, Tribes Media, Berlin (2019); Matter, Uli Fischer Galerie, Berlin (2018); Christopher Kieling, Cornelia Walter Galerie, Munich (2016); Till The Wells Run Dry, MBzwo Showroom, Berlin (2015) and Kontrast, The Book Club, London (2012). As well as representation at national and international art fairs including SIAF, Salzburg (2020); ARTMUC, Munich (2017); STROKE Art Fair, Munich (2016); Kunstmesse Regensburg, Regensburg (2015); BCN Art Fair, Barcelona (2014); and KUBOSHOW, Herne (2014). 

In 2010 Kieling was the recipient of BarTur photography award and the University of the Arts London degree show CAN Audience Award.