"My paintings explore the space occupied by the unexpected accidents and gestures within the abstract world. Starting from a few strokes, sprays, or pours of paint, my works evolve, and eventually arrive, through a process of adding and subtracting. Color, mark making, composition; all decisions are made intuitively, inspired by a feeling or in response to gestures or forms already existing in the painting. Important to my process is an attempt to get my thoughts out of the way and let the intuitive decisions and explorations of the material qualities of the paint guide the work. Working intuitively inherently leads to the struggle of knowing when a painting is done, when pushing forward would destroy a delicate balance or strong visual statement. Often my finished paintings have gone through many destructions and resurrections, and I wouldn't have it any other way." –Kris

Selected Exhibitions

• 2021: The Really Really Good Abstract Show, juried group show, Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA
• 2020: Congruence: Summer 2020 Juried Exhibition, ilikeyourworkpodcast.com
• 2019: North/East, juried group show, Circa Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
• 2012: Colors, juried group show, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
• 2012: Timeless Meditations: Mandalas and Patterns In Nature, juried group show, Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ
• 2008: Not Not Clay: Really Contemporary Works, group show, Gallery 13, Minneapolis, MN
• 2006: One Square Foot, juried group exhibition, Clay Squared to Infinity, Minneapolis, MN
• 2006: Members Annual Juried Show, juried group show, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN
• 2005: New Work, solo exhibition, Affinity Plus Credit Union, Minneapolis, MN
• 2004: Minnetonka Center for the Arts Annual Sculpture Group Show, Minnetonka, MN
• 2000: Peace Box, juried group exhibition, Kyoto International Community House, Kyoto, Japan

Education

• 1999-2000: Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan – Woodblock printmaking advanced studies residency
• 1998: Kyoto Seika University, Kyoto, Japan – Monbusho Ministry of Education Fellowship, Papermaking/Woodblock Printmaking Study
• 1998: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Michigan School of Art and Design, Ann Arbor, MI Concentration in ceramics and printmaking

Awards

• 2005: Jerome Emerging Artist Fellowship, Summer 2005, St. John's Pottery at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN
• 1998: Ministry of Education Monbusho Fellowship, Kyoto, Japan

Related Experience

• 2000: Etching/Papermaking Internship, Studio of Sarah Brayer, Kyoto, Japan
• 1999: Sato Woodblock Print Studio Internship, Kyoto, Japan

Teaching

• 2004: Instructor, Throwing Together wheel throwing course, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN
• 2004: Guest instructor, Clay workshop, Cherokee Heights Elementary School. St. Paul, MN
• 2003/04: Teaching Assistant, Basic wheel throwing course, Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

Gallery Representation

• 2006-2007: Dean Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
• 2002-2003: Gallery 360, Minneapolis, MN