Sune Christiansen has developed a signature approach to figurative abstraction that is as obscure as it is playful. Poised with vibrant and expressive colors, Christiansen’s work captures a distorted reality wherein the viewer can form their own opinions and interpretations of his work. While allowing the figures in his painting to speak for themselves, Christiansen subtly touches on themes, including power dynamics, religious rituals, sexuality, and intimacy. Ultimately, his paintings carry an expression that possesses an indisputable honesty.

Working with painting, ceramics, and graphics, Christiansen is a multi-disciplinary artist. While painting, his crude strokes deftly modulate texture and density while still leaving behind raw, exposed canvas. Christiansen draws upon his extensive experience working with digital drawing tools to compose new works, preferring to begin each painting through a process of iPad-based sketching and refinement. Once a loose arrangement of forms has been identified, Christiansen begins his process by drawing on canvas, focusing on materiality and visual sensation, and trying to faithfully reproduce the original sketch.

Sune Christiansen (b. 1976) is a self-taught artist who lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. His works has been exhibited in Denmark as well as internationally. Recent exhibitions include ‘Afterparty’ at Bricks Gallery (Copenhagen DK, 2024), ‘The Leftovers’ at Alzueta Gallery (Barcelona, ES, 2023) and ‘Viewpoints’ at Pt.2 Gallery (Oakland, US, 2023). 

Portrait Photo: Sofie Hannibal