Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery is very pleased to announce that Chris Mastro has been named as the Gallery’s new featured artist and he will now be promoted by the gallery for the next 14 days in the gallery’s Artist Showcase.

Chris was selected as 1 of the top twelve finalists of the gallery’s recent Solo Art Exhibition Series #4. The placement in this competition qualified his art to be showcased in this feature.  Below are Chris's Artist Biography, Artist Statement and 5 images that were submitted to this competition.

Artist Biography:

At a young age, he was exposed to the arts threw a variety of teachers and family members, always finding encouragement to pursue his creativity and love of drawing. By the time he had reached high school his exposure to world arts and culture took on a broader dimension when he moved to London with his family and began studies at ACS International School.

During this phase of his life he had the good fortune of traveling extensively threw Europe and Asia. Chris attended SVA for illustration on scholarship. Frustrated with the mediums limitations he registered for a photography class and found a new and deep passion for working with film. In 2002 he received a BFA at SUNY Purchase. Soon after, Chris moved to LA.

Over the past fifteen years, has continued to hone his skills, experimenting with a variety photographic mediums and lighting techniques. For the last year and a half, Chris has been working on a personal series using only a single model--natural light and an iPhone.

Chris’s artistic influences are: Helmet Newton, Gregory Crewdson and Diane Arbus.

Artist Statement:

Chris utilizes and questions the everyday technology of iPhone culture by showing his work in various curated art shows. He has embraced the iPhone as a new and viable tool that allows a sense of freedom and spontaneity that the classic world of SLR’s has lost. He is able to draws upon his in depth knowledge of traditional photographic film techniques and push into the future.

Through experimenting with natural light and shadows, this body of work produces a voyeuristic gaze that illuminates the sentient being of his subject. Put differently, the evident connection between photographer and subject overrides any palpable sadness, revealing a renewed sense of hope and playfulness that makes these photographs touching and dynamic. 

Chris's website is  www.instagram.com/kidmastro