There once lived an idea for provincial young men to embark on a grande tour. By doing so they would mature, like butterflies, into lighter and more sensitive beings. It was believed that by visiting cultural monuments, namely in Italy, a kind of artistic sophistication would enter the chest of the journeyman thereupon granting him a gentleman status among commoners at home.
Such a journey is the subject of my newest work. By re-creating various segments and landmarks visited along sample journeys of my own, I endure long exposure to the once-held transformative power of these settings, albeit from the controlled setting of my studio.
The creation of these images resembles the mechanics of antique photography. Places initially glimpsed in haste, captured digitally in a blur, are studied and developed thru several steps. By dragging out the process, with little to no computer screen editing, I aim to restore a tactile experience rich in happy accidents that celebrates a hands-on, labour-filled authenticity.
solo and two-person exhibitions
2011 exteriors Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2009 oil, water, and light Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2008 mudville Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2006 american cityscapes McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2006 Pillar and Stretch: David Leonard and Christopher St. Leger Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2005 Light to dark: places in watercolor Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2004 Austin Urbanscapes Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2003 Blue City Annarella, Georgetown, TX
2003 Pastoral: a celebration in watercolor Uncle Freddy's Gallery, Hammond, IN
2002 Mentolyptus Makaar Studios, Chicago, IL
2000 Vilagban Potkulcs, Budapest, Hungary
group exhibitions
2010 episode 11 Gamma Proforma, London, UK
2010 New York Moments George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2010 That Summer Feeling Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2010 The People’s Gallery Exhibition City Hall, Austin, TX
2009 Summer in the City George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2008 City Light George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2008 65th Salon Show South Shore Arts, Munster, IN – Juror: William Lieberman
2007 Revisiting Red McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2007 paint, work by ten austin painters Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2007 Good Night Sun George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2006 A Touch of Red McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2006 63rd Salon Show Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN – Juror: Susan Gescheidle
2005 A Little More Red McMurtrey Gallery, Houston, TX
2005 62nd Salon Show Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN – Juror: Karl Wirsum
2004 The Summer Preview Show Annarella, Georgetown, TX
2004 61st Salon Show Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN – Juror: Neil Goodman
2003 60th Salon Show Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, IN – Juror: Michael Rooks
awards
2008 Renee Denmark Memorial Award, 65th Salon Show, South Shore Arts, Munster, IN
2005 Individual Award of Merit, 62nd Salon Show, NIAA, Munster, IN
2003 Individual Award of Merit, 60th Salon Show, NIAA, Munster, IN
publications
2011 Visiones Anonimas Pasadas por Agua Angel Sanz Correa, UNO Magazine issue 51
2011 Exteriors Michelle Borgwardt, American Art Collector May issue
2011 Christopher St.Leger Aspekt Ratio issue 1
2010 The Artwork of Christopher St.Leger Vhcle magazine issue 4
2010 aquarela urbana Mariana Beltrame, Obvious July 24
2010 Christopher St. Leger Monroe Dinos-Kaufman, Beautiful Decay January 22
2006 New American Paintings, volume 66, October
2006 Artists to Watch Southwest Art, page 32, August
2006 Pillar and Stretch at Davis Gallery Michelle Dewey, Cantanker, review July 27
2006 Room with many views Jonathan York, The Daily Texan, weekend pp 10, June 8
2006 Pillar and Stretch Rachel Koper, Austin Chronicle, reviews pp 84, Vol.25 No. 41
2006 Texas/Best of the West Southwest Art, events pp 80, February
2005 From Drab to Dreamy in Watercolor Erin Keever, XLent Austin American-Statesman,
2005 reviews pp15-16, March 24
2005 New Perspectives/ Emerging Artists Heather Brand, Tribeza pp 37, January
2004 Rivers flow into street scenes at Davis Jessica Jimenez, Austin American-Statesman,
2004 Life &Arts pp K3, March 14
2003 Gallery features work of Midwest artists Hammond Times, February 8
collections (selected)
Puffer-Sweiven, Houston, TX
Boyar & Miller, Houston, TX
Mr. Dana Friis-Hansen, Austin, TX
Slack & Davis, LLP, Austin, TX
CE Estate Management Kft., Budapest, Hungary
commissions (selected)
2011 Greater Texas Foundation, Bryan, TX
2010 Parsley Coffin Renner LLP, Austin, TX
2008 Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa, Lost Pines, TX
2007 Puffer-Sweiven, Houston, TX
2006 The John A. Barclay Agency Inc, Austin, TX
2004 Perot Systems, Plano, TX
education
1998-00 Budapest Technical University, Descriptive Geometry
1997-98 Eotvos Lorand University
1991-95 Miami University (Ohio); Bachelor of Environmental Design
