Bio
Christian Worthington (born 1976) is a Canadian-born painter who resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A life-long student of the works and legacies of the Old Masters (most notably Caravaggio, Rembrandt, as well as modern masters Rothko, and Frankenthaler), his paintings dually reflect the meticulous and well-plotted techniques of the masters, and the contemporary sensibilities of the Modern painters.
Early life
Throughout his youth, Worthington worked constantly at his craft. After completing high school, he enrolled at the Ontario School of Art and Design in Toronto (OCAD), leaving during his first semester over "philosophical differences". He decided to forgo traditional academic training, favouring non-institutional methods. He traveled to some of the world's greatest museums and galleries- Tate Modern, National Gallery in London, the Louvre in Paris, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam- to examine and study from the Master paintings up close. A self-starter and autodidact, he absorbed their methods and philosophies through extensive reading and research, incorporating his discoveries into own unique body of work.
Worthington concerns himself with painting as being a serious investigation into beauty, as well as a timeless medium able to withstand cultural and technological trends. His earlier practice delved into the complex narratives, drama, and techniques of the Northern, Italian, and Spanish Renaissance. For several years he explored Christian themes and portraiture, seeking to understand Caravaggio and his contemporaries. Upon seeing an exhibition of Rothko abstracts at the Tate Modern, Worthington began drawing parallels between those ancient paintings and what the Modernists were doing, believing that the two generations of artists approached art with the same integrity and conviction. His work began to take on a new hybridism of ancient and modern techniques, a continuous exploration of oils, with endless experimentations in glazing, layering, and non-conventional methods of paint application.
Today
Worthington's large abstracts and representational paintings have been shown in, and sold to, private and public collections all across North America and the UK, hanging alongside the prized works of Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. His success as a painter is due to his tireless practice and studiousness, and his Rembrandt-like mercantile sensibility. He continues to gain popularity among patrons and corporate buyers. The most recent acquisitions of his works have been made by Tapper Cuddy LLP, the Western Financial Group, the Royal Bank of Canada, the Trump Towers in Miami, Florida, the public collections of the Government of Manitoba, and Manitoba Hydro.
-Suzanne Pringle
Independent Study
1999
• National Gallery, London England
• Wallace Collection, London England
• British Museum, London England
• Louvre, Paris France
• Musee D'Orsay, Paris France
• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Holland
2005
• National Gallery, London England
• Kenwood House, London England
2007
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
• Frick Collection, New York City
Exhibitions and Events
• November 2013. Three - Christian Worthington. Gurevich Fine Art.
• September 2013. Embracing the I-kon - Group Show. Mennonite Heritage Gallery.
• April 2013. Le Beau Geste - Christian Worthington. Sao House, Montreal.
• November 2012. Painting is History- Christian Worthington. Gurevich Fine Art.
• April 2012. The Politics of Colour- Christian Worthington. Zephaniah Gallery.
• June 2011.Representational Technologies- Christian Worthington and Andrew Milne. Zephaniah Gallery.
• May 2011.Image event.Panel discussion with Greg Wolfe.West End Cultural Centre.
• April 2011.Oil and Wax- Christian Worthington and Keith Wood.Zephaniah Gallery
• October 2010.New paintings- Christian Worthington.Zephaniah Gallery.
• September 2008.Patrick Neufeld and Christian Worthington.Cre8ery
• August 2006.New paintings- Christian Worthington.Light Gallery, London, England
• November 2004.Annunciation Series- Christian Worthington.Mennonite Heritage Gallery.
He has appeared on CBC National news, Image's Gallery Watch, Winnipeg Free Press, Time Out London, Cardus Magazine, The Presbyterian Record, Imago, and Eat Your Arts and Vegetables. Christian has acted as the keynote speaker at numerous events and conferences including Winnipeg's First Fridays, and MSA's Art History Conference at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.