About Chris Knight
Chris learned to draw by copying his favorite superheroes out of comic books. This early fascination with larger-than-life, symbolic, and mythic figures was the first step in a lifelong love of visual art and storytelling. In his paintings and illustrations, Chris uses narrative elements to discover and explore the idea that identity and relationships are composed of stories: the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we tell others, the stories we choose to remember, the stories we choose to forget.
As a teacher, Chris encourages his students to explore the sense of mystery and wonder that arises out of creativity. He provides a safe environment in which every student can develop their own skills while they find the best way to present their unique vision of the world. Chris takes the time to see each student as an individual so they can achieve personal goals and express their diverse experiences in an inclusive setting. Chris’ goal is for his students to see art as a joyous experience, and to leave the classroom with a creative curiosity that can motivate and energize everything they do in life.
Chris has been teaching drawing, painting, and design at PCC since 2005. He studied painting at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) and the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Chris is the recipient of the WK Rose Fellowship in the Creative Arts and a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. His work has been shown in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and at various locations across Oregon, including the Oregon Biennial.
