Christina Kent (b. 1993, The Woodlands, Texas) is a full-time figurative painter working primarily in oils. A former PhD economist, Kent's transition to painting was catalyzed by a realization that the rational economic lens was insufficient to capture the profound complexity inherent in human experience. Through her paintings she reflects on the subtle nuances hidden in mundane moments of everyday life. Kent has exhibited at Studio, Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA; Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, CA; and Pence Gallery, Davis, CA; among others. In 2023, Kent was awarded the Emerging Artist Award from Pence Gallery and had her first solo show there in 2024. She was also selected to be a 2024 Artist in Residence at both the Chalk Hill and Pouch Cove artist residencies. Kent currently lives and works in San Francisco, California.
Show Title: Quiet Days
My figurative oil paintings investigate the intricacies of light and color within everyday scenes of the city and landscape. While studying for a PhD in economics, I realized the limitations of rational models in capturing human experiences, prompting my shift to painting for a direct exploration of reality.
I discovered how mental models obscured the complexity of reality, prompting me to focus intently on my surroundings and uncover nuances in familiar places through repeated visits. This process challenges my rational mental models and encourages seeing without preconceptions.
The impressionistic and atmospheric nature of my paintings underscores the bittersweet transience of these moments, serving as a counterpoint to a society that prioritizes efficiency over sentimentality and data over lived experience. My work invites a reconsideration of societal models and notions of progress in the face of fleeting, meaningful moments.
