Christine Galvez
Capturing and preserving nature's fleeting beauty with metal, Christine Galvez has
created a whimsical world filled with creatures, myths and nostalgic beauty. Through
her transformative touch, cold metal comes alive. Intriguing and inviting, friendly and
feminine, each piece capturing a moment, an image and a story.
Galvez' story started with a spark while watching her father tinkering, welding and
creating in his workshop in the south of France. The spark inspired a young girl to try
her hand at metalwork and years later to join the Art Students League in NY where she
has created a personal universe filled with light and art. From her youth in a seaside
city in the South of France to her vibrant NY life today, structural, sunlit forms and
macabre creatures inspired by nature have become Christine's constant companions
as she travels through the hammering heat and fire that shapes her universe.
Under Pressure is her most personal piece to date and fully captures the complex
balance of beauty, danger, perseverance and oppression. These themes are familiar
to Christine who explores them individually in her “Curiosity Cabinet” collection; where
each work pairs a different species with an emotional element. Under Pressure,
received the prestigious “Red Dot” award at The 2019 Art Students League of NY
student competition – the same award presented to Georgia O'Keffe for her painting
“Dead Rabbit with Copper Pot”. Under Pressure showcases Galvez' technical progress
by carefully integrating metal and glass to tell the complex story of a curious octopus
and an innocent shrimp; captured in time and preserved under glass. An Art Students
League of NY member since 2012 Christine forges life into reclaimed automobile parts,
scrap metal or steel sheets on her metallic journey. Along the way, Christine lights up
her world, bringing life to creatures and form and function to furniture and ornamental
rooms.
The recent public recognition and appreciation for her work has strengthened
Christine's resolve to create inspired artistic work, but also to craft functional pieces.
Her collection of iconic NYC water tanks plays a central, decorative role while doubling
as a hiding place for cherished secrets and mementos. Her expanded body of work
stems from a naturalist world of sculpture and art but sits squarely in today's world of
design and functionality.
In the artisan tradition, Galvez' work covers three principle areas: sculpture, luminary,
and furniture. The brand Metalight New York was developed as a vehicle to showcase
Christine's complete body of work and make it more accessible.