Cedric Christie | oblivious to your own career survey exhibition of sculpture 1995–2024
27 April to 21 September 2024 open each Saturday 2-6 + by appointment
Rocket presents a survey exhibition of sculpture by Cedric Christie – the artist’s third solo exhibition at Rocket after a hiatus of 21 years.
For three decades Cedric Christie has consistently pursued his vision of contemporary sculpture producing minimalist works that defy classification. This exhibition, curated by Jonathan & Sid Stephenson, juxtaposes rare early text works with distinctive steel, aluminium and painted sculptures from all periods up to the present.
It is the aesthetic of reduction that I am in love with – the aesthetic, for me, is close to the idea of a sentence. No, I don’t want to have to write a whole book to say something. Cedric Christie, Mass, issue 2, 2023
Cedric Christie (UK, b1962) is a London-based artist who trained originally as a welder. His current studio, housed within a commercial metal fabrication factory, is located in the East London suburb of Dagenham – historically the home of the Ford Motor Factory. Christie uses found industrial materials such as scaffolding pipes, coupler clamps, stainless steel channel, steel U-channel, cellulose automotive paint and even phenolic resin snooker balls to make sculptures that explore the boundaries of modernist art. Christie had his first exhibition at Rocket – What’s the point of looking but not touching? – in 2001; followed by the sell-out exhibition 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? in 2003. These two solo exhibitions at Rocket – together with projects at Art Chicago (1999) and Art Forum Berlin (2001) – brought Christie international recognition. In the subsequent two decades he has exhibited in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Croatia and the USA.
Christie’s work is in significant institutional and corporate collections including Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Canada; David & Indrė Roberts Collection, UK; Derwent London, UK; Brown Rudnick, Boston/London; BUPA, London; Groucho Club, London; Die Keure, Belgium. Recent commissions include substantial sculptures in contemporary architectural settings at 4o Strand, London; The Peak, Victoria, London; and Canary Wharf, London.
Preview on Thursday 25 April 2024 from 6-9 with the artist present
click for a copy of the exhibition press release