New show at the Laguna Art-A-Fair, in Laguna Beach
July 1 - September 4, 2022
ART RECEPTION at Laguna Art Gallery Saturday September 3, 2022 3-6pm
Located at the Shops at Mission Viejo
Between Nordstrom's and The Apple Store
LagunaART.com
Christina Akerson
“I express myself through paint strokes that blur the lines between reality and abstraction. I’m interested in the unique character of each medium, how it behaves and how far it can be manipulated to find the value of its surface presence. Whether it’s flat like alcohol-ink, thick like acrylic paint, shiny like metal, or matte like spray paint, the mediums accentuate each other's differences, yet come together as a whole. When it comes to subjects, I am most intrigued by a person’s experience amongst nature. I pose the figure in their scene as if they are unaware of the lens that focuses on them and believe this brings us closer to to an inner life and closer to innocence.”—Christina Akerson
Christina is a Huntington Beach based artist and a 4th generation Asian American. Her new collection Beach Day is exhibiting at The City Hall of Laguna Beach for the Environmental Awareness Exhibition. Simultaneously, her Lady Bird Mural and Sailing Mural Inkscapes are showing at the Laguna Art-A-Fair .
The Lady Bird Mural and The Sailing Mural act as both collections and murals. Christina explores the possibility of works that contribute their individualities to a larger story. Arranged on a wall as one scene, which has been chosen by the owner or curator, the paintings speak to each other and harmonize across negative space without frames or visual barriers.
In 2022, Christina was the first artist to receive the top three awards in the same year at the 54th Annual Sunset Beach Firehouse Exhibit: Best in Show, 1st in Acrylic, and 1st in Mixed Media.
Her study in art can be traced back to when the Head of the Art department of her High School, Leslie Brandlin, mentored her to compete for awards. Christina won but declined a path to art school to accept study in Opera. Later in life, she returned to painting when she joined an art studio in New Mexico under Janet Bothne, an expressionist painter, and has been painting daily since.
She holds a BA in Music from UCLA, and a Master of Music from The Manhattan School of Music, having received full scholarships in Opera. During her career, she performed internationally and toured nationally with Broadway shows and Opera, appearing also on Disney, FOX, and NBC for tv and film.
Juried Exhibitions & Gallery Representation
2022 Laguna Art Gallery at The Shops at Mission Viejo, CA
2022 City of Laguna Beach Exhibition Environmental Awareness at City Hall
2022 Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach CA
2022 Sunset Beach Firehouse Gallery, Sunset Beach CA
2021 to Present: Solo Work at Shanghai Salon, Costa Mesa CA
2020 "Women's Work 2020" Ghostwolf Gallery, Albuquerque NM
2020 "Women's Visions and Ventures", The Gallery ABQ
2020 Group Show "Albuquerque Artists" Seasons Old Town Albuquerque
Grants & Awards
Best In Show, Sunset Beach Firehouse Art Exhibit
1st Place in Acrylic, Sunset Beach Firehouse Art Exhibit
1st Place in Mixed Media, Sunset Beach Firehouse Art Exhibit
1st Place, Monterey County Art Association
1st Place, Home Savings Bank Young Artist Award
Education
UCLA, Bachelor of Arts
Manhattan School of Music, Master of Music