CRIS F. CORTIZAS
artist's statement
Side by Side Pears | oil on canvas

I use color as one of my primary elements. The vibrancy and vividness of the colors are so important to my work that they often define the outcome of the composition. Even in the more somber, darker works, there is an underlying hue of color that breaks through and illuminates the surface.

My style has a very decorative appeal reminiscent of the lush, exotic rooms Matisse painted and the textures and designs the French Nabis used in their interiors. This quality however, does not detract from the study of all the other formal elements, resulting in balanced, thoughtfully layered and at the same time pleasing compositions.

My work has been exhibited throughout the Boston area. I hold degrees from the Boston School of the Museum Fine Arts and from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.