b. 1989

Christie’s work can be seen as very witty and nostalgic. Seemingly simple at first, the more you look; the more there is to see. Thoughtfully immortalising a period of time, he documents the scenes of Australia in this day and age as we are on the verge of a dying era.

The self-taught artist has been a finalist in several major art prizes, including the Waterhouse Art Prize, Parklands Art Prize, Lethbridge 10000 and the BSG Small Scale Prize to name a few. In 2015 he was nominated for the Channel 9 Young Achiever Arts Award and in 2016 became the winner of the prestigious award.

“As a 90s kid I have a vivid picture of what my home town (Adelaide) was to me; the certain buildings, attractions, shops and landmarks. All these places have left a lasting impression on me; however, with this fast paced world we now live in, people often forget what we used to have around us or even what we still do. My aim is to bring attention to the things that often take a backseat in our lives, encouraging the viewer to pause and look at the landscape a little different.

My other objective is to immortalise this period of time, documenting the scenes of Australia in this day and age as we are in a transitioning period of time. Each picture I paint has a connection to me, even if only subtle; I am placing a piece of me into each painting. If you follow this series and where I plan to take it, you will notice a subliminal autobiography throughout. Each painting has a personal story attached; I have been a part of the scene in which I am documenting. I choose to leave the paintings vacant of people and life, not only to give the air that something has or is about to occur, but to also allow the viewer to place themselves in the setting and recreate their own memory or narrative.

When it comes to selecting which images to paint, it comes down to a range of things that I look for. The more unusual the better, as we are entering a Lego land era, I look for anything that stands out. I love architecture from several periods but what I choose to capture are the ones that are often overlooked, such as the tacky 70s designs. Another aspect that I am fascinated with is the signage; I have always been an admirer of typography and advertising. I find it intriguing, the influences in design and construction of this decade and elect to put them on show.”