Lattanzio Blog

Artist’s Light Gives Lines Life

Artist’s Light Gives Lines Life

Chris Lattanzio’s Captivating 3-D Line Sculptures

For artist Chris Lattanzio, art is not a means to an end, but rather the means itself. In this respect, the path essentially is the goal-and his three dimensional, dreamlike Line Sculptures (of depth and shadow, basked in white) truly are a pathway for light. As subtle as they are strong, these line spectaculars take on a life and light all their own.

The gentle power of Lattanzio’s work allows the observer a to take a break from life, affording an enlightening opportunity to contemplate it’s intricacies, it’s subtleties, it’s mysteries…and ultimately it’s possibilities. It is Lattanzio’s ability to be both camera-catching the actual image-and also interpreter-capturing the very essence of his subject-that sets him in his own light!

First he discovers his subjects through presence and instinct; struck either viscerally or spiritually-or often both. He captures the subject in his camera viewfinder, reduces the digital image to simple lines, sketching those lines in ink on paper, and then applying the sketch to different thicknesses of flat surfaces which are carved and assembled on a flat base. Somewhere in this inspired and intricate process, an altogether new form emerges. Ultimately, the depths of the lines inform the exchange of shadow and light. The art works are finally painted white to enhance this light play.

Holding a B.B.A in Economics (minor in International Business and Information Systems) from Baylor University, and also educated at the prestigious New York University Film School (continiuing ed), Chris Lattanzio has an understanding of the culture and a perspective of the world that is truly open-minded. And as line does light, this informs every aspect of his own work and life in art.

Ultimately, Chris suggests that his art is about just that; light and the interplay of light with different depths of lines and the dance with its brother shadow which gives fullness to his figures. Personally, he says, the study of light and shadow drives (and drags) him to a kind of acceptance with himself and the world around him. Luckily for us, he has turned that world into something quite extraordinary and light-like, full of brilliance!