About:
C. A. Gray is a visual artist specializing in figurative Sculpture & Painting. Most well-known for his erotic pop art paintings, Gray is also a skilled Bronze sculptor, award winning Disk Jockey, Amateur Novelist, former Sex-worker & Private Investigator. Drawing inspiration from his unconventional life; Gray is most noteworthy for his diverse figurative rendering techniques and the boldness of his concepts. He was published for the first time at the age of 11 and would go on to graduate with honors from the Hartford Art School in 2005. Chris studied figurative art intensely during his time in Art School where he learned from modern masters Fred Wessell, Lloyd Glasson and Steven Brown. During this time he studied in Cortona, Italy for a semester and while abroad Gray was able to visit cities and towns throughout the peninsula (Florence, Rome, Sienna, Ravenna, Venice, ect) and experience much of the incredible art Italy has to offer. This further entrenched Gray’s love of classical figurative art but created tremendous friction with his sculpture professors back home (Gilles Giuntini & Hiro Fukawa) who believed that going to Italy would “ruin” his ability to think about art since in their words “Michelangelo made stupid art for stupid people”. One year after returning to Hartford, Gray was indeed forced out of the sculpture department at the Hartford Art School by Professor Hiro Fukawa for, in his words: “making stupid art for stupid people” (like Michelangelo) and was left with no choice but to pursue painting for his BFA. Since graduating; Gray relocated to Portland, Oregon where he further developed his rendering techniques while adding significantly bolder conceptual elements to his art. Gray’s preferred painting medium moved from oil to digital with concepts influenced by his 15 years working in the local Portland sex industry. This time in the adult night club industry served as an inspiration to Gray and led him to explore eroticism thru sex positive imagery and pop culture. Recently, Gray has returned to Sculpture and has been developing a series of Bronzes (cast by his own hands in his newly established foundry) for exhibition in 2024 focusing on trauma and spirituality. C. A. Gray’s work has been featured in 35 exhibitions throughout The United States (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Texas & Michigan) and parts of Europe. Chris’ Erotic prints have been exhibited in several of the largest art exhibitions in the world including Detroit’s infamous Dirty Show, The Seattle Erotic Arts Festival and Erotic Art Exhibition London.
Email: pdxsculpture@gmail.com
Instagram: @chihuahua_valhalla
Gray’s work on display at the 2018 Seattle Erotic Art Festival.
EDUCATION, DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES
2016-2022 Private Investigator License, Oregon PIID 76486
2005- BFA: Painting, Minors Sculpture, Hartford Art School at The University of Hartford, Cum Laude Honors
Notable Instructors: Fred Wessel, Stephen Brown & Lloyd Glasson
2003- University of Georgia Study Abroad Program (Cortona Italy). National Dean’s List Honors
2000- Certificate in Machine Technology & High School Diploma, Smith Vocational High School, Honors List
AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2023- 1st Place in Technical Skill category, MHCC Visual Arts Student Exhibition
2013- Best DJ award, PDX Strip Club Awards
2009- Best in Show Award, 100th Monkey Studio’s 3rd annual Juried Exhibition
GROUP EXHIBITION HISTORY
2023. Oregon Society of Artists’ Sculpture Showcase, Juried Art Exhibition. Portland OR
-MHCC Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Juried Art exhibition. Troutdale, OR
2019. Seattle Erotic Art Festival 2019, international juried art exhibition. Seattle WA
- Dirty Show 20, international juried art exhibition, Detroit MI
- Pancakes & Booze, Group Exhibition, Dallas TX
2018. Seattle Erotic Art Festival 2018, international juried art exhibition. Seattle WA
- Erotic Art Exhibition London 2018, international juried exhibition, London UK
- Haux, Charity Auction for Sex Workers, Portland OR
- Dirty Show 19, international juried art exhibition, Detroit MI
- Pancakes & Booze, Group Exhibition, Portland OR
2017. Guilty Pleasures, Group Exhibition at Splendorporium Gallery, Portland OR
2014. Penumbra, juried art exhibition at Gallery 114, Portland OR
2013. Exhibition at Sidecar 11, Portland OR
- Hump Night, Exhibition at Alexeisia Center For Art, Portland OR
- Taproot, juried art exhibition at Gallery 114, Portland OR
2012. Hold Fast Tattoo and Gallery, Seaside OR
2011. Faces, Exhibition at Sidestreet Gallery, Portland OR
2010. Stars, Exhibition at Sidestreet Gallery, Portland OR
- Day of the Dead, Exhibition at Sidestreet Gallery, Portland OR
- Breasts, juried art exhibition at Ouch My Eye Gallery, Seattle WA
- Project Expose Yourself, Street Exhibition on 5th and Alder, Portland OR
2009. 3rd Annual Juried Show, juried exhibition at 100th Monkey Studios, Portland OR
2005. Senior Thesis Exhibition, Group Exhibition at Slipe Gallery HAS, West Hartford CT
2004. Dialogues, Group Exhibition at Slipe Gallery HAS, West Hartford CT
- Cortona Program Student Exhibition, Group Exhibition at Dodd Galleries UGA, Athens GA
2003. UGA Study Abroad Student Exhibition, Group exhibition at Palazzo Casali, Cortona IT
SOLO EXHIBITION HISTORY
2013. Featured Artist, Exhibition at Mingo, Portland OR
- Featured Artist, Exhibition at Pieper Café, Portland OR
2010. Featured Artist, Exhibition at Aloft Hotel, Portland OR
2009. Featured Artist, Exhibition at Art Heads Framing Gallery, Portland OR
- Featured Artist, Exhibition at Rocking Frog Café, Portland OR
2002. Featured Artist, Exhibition at Capos Café, Easthampton MA
2001. Featured Artist, Exhibition at Capos Café, Easthampton MA
PUBLICATION HISTORY
2022. PerKs Magazine, Fall 2022
2019. SEAF 2019 Visual Art Catalogue
2018. SEAF 2018 Visual Art Catalogue
2011. Portland Talent Magazine, April 2011 Edition
2010. Knead Art Magazine, Issue #1 April 2010
2007. The Unnaturals, Issue #1, Fall 2007
1993. Victory Over Violence Comic Book
Gray at Dirty Show 19
