German artist Chris Succo works in a variety of materials and processes, creating paintings made by spray painting lacquer and oil on canvas using a minimalist palette largely comprised of matte black and white. Succo’s ZigZag Paintings resemble writing or calligraphy, a characteristic that evinces the significant influences of poetry and music in his work. For one of his best known series, the White Paintings, the painting background is partially obscured by gestural layers of white oil paint, allowing flashes of colour to shine through. Creating also silkscreened collages on canvas or sculptures with mild steel, mesh, or boxing equipment, Succo writes a storyline from one work to another that shares a quest of individuality within the elements of expression and refinement of forms and techniques.

Born 1979
Lives and works in Düsseldorf, DE

2003 – 2009
Prof. Georg Herold, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, DE

2010 – 2012
Royal College Of Art, London, UK

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2023
White Paintings, Galerie Walter Storms, München, DE
Spark Paintings, Walter Storms Galerie, München, DE
Televised Mind, Almine Rech, Brüssel, BE
2022
Blanc De Blancs, Curated By Sonia Gonzales & Gregor Hildebrandt, Villa Schöningen, Potsdam, DE
Drei Farben: Blau, Weiss, Rot, Walter Storms Gallery, Munich, DE
2021
Snow Falls Behind The Mountains, Curated By Gregor Hildebrandt, Avlskarl Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
2020
Hangover Boogie, Curated By Gregor Jansen, Leeahn Gallery, Daegu, KR
Water Always Moves On, Almine Rech, Brussels, BE
Abstract! Minimalism To Now, Tilton Gallery, New York, NY
2019
Gazing Into The Void, Bjorn & Gundorph Gallery, Aarhus, DK
Painting Zeitgeist?, Achenbach Hagemeier, Berlin, DE
2017
Painting Or Not, Hoff Collection | Kaviar Factory, Henningsvær, NO
Drawing Island, The Journal Gallery, New York, US
2016
What´s Up 2.0, Curated By Lawrence Van Hagen, 94 Portland Place, London, UK
The Ties That Bind, Achenbach Hagemeier, Wuppertal, DE
2015
New Release Video, Curated By Erin Goldberger, 60 Mulberry Street, New York, US
Choices, Beaux Arts De Paris | Palais Des Études, Paris, FR
From Gesture To Figure | Von Der Geste Zur Figur, Schönewald Fine Arts, Düsseldorf, DE
Ayan Farah, Max Lamb, Chris Succo, Almine Rech Gallery, London, UK
2014
The Go Between | Works From The Ernesto Esposito Collection, Museo Di Capodimonte, Naples, IT
17 Abstract Paintings, Wertheim, Cologne, DE
The Go Between | Works From The Ernesto Esposito Collection, Sprovieri Gallery, London, UK
LIFE, The Journal Gallery at Venus Over Manhattan, New York, US
But That Joke Isn´t Funny Anymore, Tilton Gallery, New York, US
Difference And Repetition, Luce Gallery, Turin, IT
I May Be Wrong But I Think You Are Beautiful, Achenbach Hagemeier, Düsseldorf, DE

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2022
Hood Ornament, LP, Grzegorzki Records, Berlin
2021
Succo / Kirkeby, Achenbach Hagemeier, Distanz Verlag, Berlin, DE
Nude Landscape, LP, Grzegorzki Records, Berlin
The Architecture Of Chanel – Peter Marino, Phaidon
2018
Chris Succo: Works 2012-2017, published by Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong
The Price You Pay For Not Being Alone With Your Dying, With Paul Wasserman, 2nd Chinese/ English
Edition, Published By Whitestone Gallery, Hong Kong
2017
Blood And Chrome, Distanz Verlag, Berlin, DE
2016
Art Architecture, Peter Marino, Phaidon
2015
The Price You Pay For Not Being Alone With Your Dying, With Paul Wasserman, Published By Half
Gallery, The Journal Gallery and Almine Rech, New York, US
Choices, Beaux Arts De Paris, Palais Des Études, Paris, FR
2014
The Go Between, Works From The Ernesto Esposito Collection, Cura Books, Rome, IT
Autocenter, Distanz Verlag, Berlin, DE
CHANEL Collection USA, Published By Peter Marino Architect, New York, US
CHANEL Collection Geneva, Published By Peter Marino Architect, New York, US