Welcome to Elow

The concept of order, disorder, and reordering is central to my work. Scientists talk of order and randomness, of entropy, and of eternity’s eventual end when all differences disappear. Yet, I am an optimist. I see life as an anti-entropic force for order. In my work, I constantly propose not a duality of life and death, but an endless cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

My most recent series, The Thirteenth Moon, may be interpreted as a symbol of life’s continuous renewal, since the thirteenth moon may bridge the last portion of an old year with the first portion of the new.

I explore systems of knowledge by translating philosophical concepts into aesthetic visual experiences.

To explore these perceptual mechanisms I paint a simplified reality, highlighting the effects of light and incorporating only a minimal amount of other detail. Rather than paint objects, I try to paint the light that they transmit or reflect. In the process, I strive for a slightly more stylized world: one  defined by a light that lends beauty even to the gutters and haze of the city.

I am interested in exploring the convergence of science, technology and personal mythology into a thickly layered stratum of images and objects reflecting systems within the body, nature, and imagination. These immersive, site-responsive installations act as otherworldly ecosystems integrated into urban architecture. They undulate between the real and fantastical, the micro and macro, the organic and synthetic.

Christina Shurts’ paintings have been exhibited on the West coast and abroad. Highlights include the Torrance Art Museum, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park, LOFT Gallery, San Pedro, CA and the inaugural exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, London, UK Showdown Exhibition. Shurts is a MFA candidate (2010) at California State University Long Beach