Chris Volpe

Though he graduated with a master’s in poetry under Charles Simic, Christopher Volpe (1996) at some point found himself teaching art history at several area colleges and shortly after devoted himself to painting. He is currently a full-time multimedia artist and art writer and teaches visual art at Hollis Artspace, the community art center he runs in partnership with his wife Anna Birch (1994). His recent work, taking an essentially metaphorical approach, references American literature and cinema and incorporates materials such as ash, tar, and gold leaf for their poetic and political overtones. He has been featured nationally on the PBS Newshour for his art addressing climate change, and his artwork is held in the permanent collections of Smith College, Ege University (Turkey), New England College, the Whistler House Museum, the New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the University of New Hampshire. Grants and awards include the Saint Botolph Club Foundation, MassMoCA/Assets for Artists, and the NH State Council on the Arts. His work can be viewed online at www.christophervolpe.com.