Christina McPhee: Layers of Landscape and Memory
Christina McPhee’s artistic practice is rooted in a profound engagement with place—specifically, the ancestral lands of the Chumash and Salinan peoples in Southern California. Her work transcends mere representation; instead, she constructs layered visual narratives that explore site specificity and delve into the complexities of memory, resulting in striking drawings, paintings, and video installations. Born in Los Angeles in 1954, McPhee’s artistic journey began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Scripps College in Claremont, California, followed by an MFA from Boston University College of Fine Arts where she studied under the influential Philip Guston—a connection that undeniably shaped her aesthetic sensibilities.
McPhee's approach to artmaking distinguishes itself through meticulous observation and experimentation. She painstakingly analyzes geological formations, atmospheric conditions, and subtle shifts in light – elements that become integral components of her artworks. Drawing inspiration from Guston’s expansive canvases and his exploration of tonal abstraction, McPhee employs a technique characterized by dense layering and textural manipulation. Her drawings often utilize graphite and charcoal to capture the contours of landscapes with remarkable precision, while her paintings incorporate encaustic wax alongside pigment—a medium known for its ability to fuse color and texture into durable surfaces. This deliberate process reflects a desire to convey not just what is seen but also how it feels – capturing the essence of a particular environment.
Her participation in Documenta 12 (2007) and the Bucharest Biennale (2008) cemented her position as a significant voice within contemporary art discourse. These exhibitions showcased her commitment to confronting pressing environmental concerns through artistic inquiry, demonstrating her willingness to engage with critical dialogues about representation and perception. McPhee’s work has garnered recognition from institutions like the American University Museum located in Washington, D.C., and the bildmuseet in Umea, Sweden, furthering her visibility within the international art community.
Among her notable achievements are solo museum exhibitions at these venues, highlighting her ability to articulate complex ideas through visual mediums. Furthermore, her video installations have been presented at festivals such as Videoformes in Clermont-Ferrand, France and Open Space, demonstrating her versatility as an artist across various artistic disciplines. Christina McPhee continues to pursue her artistic vision, driven by a dedication to exploring the intersection of landscape, memory, and artistic expression—a legacy that underscores her enduring contribution to the realm of contemporary art.
- Notable Exhibitions:
- American University Museum: Canyon Variations #4
- bildmuseet: Cloudfoot Kilauea
- Documenta 12: Kassel, Germany
- Bucharest Biennale: Bucharest, Romania
Christina McPhee’s artistic trajectory began with a formative encounter with Philip Guston's monumental paintings—particularly “The Great Dying,” which instilled in her a fascination for tonal abstraction and the exploration of profound emotional resonance. This influence extended beyond stylistic considerations; Guston’s insistence on confronting difficult truths and embracing ambiguity served as a guiding principle for McPhee’s own artistic endeavors. Her MFA studies at Boston University solidified this commitment to conceptual rigor, equipping her with the intellectual tools necessary to engage critically with complex issues of representation and materiality.
Her exploration of landscape—particularly the Chumash and Salinan territories—represents more than just aesthetic preference; it embodies a deep ethical responsibility. McPhee seeks to honor the ancestral knowledge embedded within these lands and to convey their spiritual significance through her artwork. She meticulously documents geological formations, atmospheric conditions, and subtle shifts in light – elements that become integral components of her visual narratives. This painstaking observation is complemented by experimentation with diverse media—drawing, painting, video, and print—each chosen to maximize expressive potential.
McPhee’s artistic process reflects a profound engagement with materiality. She employs encaustic wax alongside pigment—a medium known for its ability to fuse color and texture into durable surfaces—creating artworks that resist temporal decay and invite prolonged contemplation. Her drawings utilize graphite and charcoal, capturing the contours of landscapes with remarkable precision and conveying a sense of tactile immediacy. These techniques are informed by Guston’s legacy of embracing textural complexity and resisting superficial appearances.
Her participation in Documenta 12 (2007) and the Bucharest Biennale (2008) underscored her commitment to confronting pressing environmental concerns through artistic inquiry, demonstrating her willingness to engage with critical dialogues about representation and perception. These exhibitions served as platforms for McPhee to articulate her vision of art as a tool for fostering empathy and promoting ecological awareness—a perspective that aligns seamlessly with her philosophical grounding in the work of Édouard Glissant.
Christina McPhee’s enduring contribution to contemporary art lies not only in her stylistic innovations but also in her unwavering dedication to ethical engagement—a legacy that continues to inspire artists and scholars alike.
