BIO

We are proud to initiate this new venue for one of the most unseen, inacessible, and, we think, greatest painters around. For decades Chris Ernst has labored under private patronage in the Pacific Northwest; the majority of his work belongs to a handful of collectors. Now, we fans of the artist have persuaded him to allow a few works to be shown here.

It has been particularly difficult because of the artist's style of working. He paints impatiently, feverishly, gloriously; often destroying yesterday's canvasses, slicing and rearranging them for tomorrow's revelation. One almost feels they are mere by-products of an inner creative process. The artist certainly seems to think so.

It was with some reluctance that Chris Ernst agreed to release these images - In part because a digital format cannot represent the pieces faithfully. We pressed him becase we who have seen his work feel it belongs to the highest ranks of contemporary abstract expression. It deserves to be seen.

FRIENDS OF CHRIS ERNST