Chris James Cooper
Parksville , British Columbia
Chris James Cooper BSc. Ecology, BArch., OAA born 1956-died 2010
Message
Chris James Cooper (1956–2010): Artist and Architect
Chris James Cooper was a highly respected Canadian artist known for his vibrant, textural oil paintings that explored the geological and elemental forces of the Canadian Shield and the Arctic. His work is unique in that it was profoundly informed by his parallel career as a celebrated architect, resulting in a structural yet deeply spiritual interpretation of the landscape.
Architectural and Educational Milestones
- Father's Influence: Chris James Cooper's father, Kenneth Raymond Cooper, was a prominent Toronto architect during the mid-1970s, with completed projects including major high-rise buildings like Canada Square (1963) and Yonge Eglinton Centre Tower A (1978).
- Education: Chris James Cooper was formally trained in both science and design:
- B. of Architecture, 1984, Dalhousie, Nova Scotia
- B. of Science (Hon.), Ecology, 1980, U of Guelph
Artistic Style and Themes
Cooper's painting style is characterized by bold color and a thick, textured application of oil paint. His primary themes include the Canadian Shield (Georgian Bay) and the Canadian Arctic (Yukon and Baffin Island).
Exhibition History (Previous Art Exhibitions)
Cooper actively participated in juried shows, including multiple exhibitions at the McMichael Gallery, Casa Loma Art Show, and the 32nd Buckhorn Fine Art Festival.
Online Provenance and Resources
For further information on the artist’s full body of work and exhibition history, please visit the following authorized websites:
- Official Studio Website: www.chrisjcooperstudio.com
- Artwork Archive Profile: www.artworkarchive.com/profile/chris-james-cooper
Statement
“I have a dual educational background in ecology as well as architecture, which influences my search for form and process in the subject material of my paintings.
The world I would like to create with my work is one which reflects the dynamical forces of nature which have fashioned our environment through time: the imprint of the glacial age, the carving effects of the wind, water and march of the seasons. In parallel, to infuse some of the ideas of life and living I have gleaned from my experiences and readings of science and philosophy into the work where possible: visual metaphors as a layer beneath the paint.
To get the source material for the work is as equally enjoyable as the painting itself. Kayak trips for a couple of weeks to an unbelievable solitude of seemingly endless islands of granite and big skies that remind one of the true scale of life. Hiking under white pines with their unique whispering response to the wind. Driving the length of the Dempster highway both ways and surviving!”
C.J.Cooper
2008