Wright Auction

CHRIS BEESTON, born in 1985 and hailing from North Carolina, is a New York-based artist whose creations breathe new life into the mundane through meticulous craftsmanship and innovative design. After obtaining a BA in Studio Art from Davidson College in 2008, Beeston embarked on a journey that seamlessly intertwines his personal passions with his artistic vision.

Drawing inspiration from his hobbies and life experiences, which include repairing broken electronics, scavenging street metal, devouring science fiction literature, and immersing himself in scientific and technical knowledge, Beeston's work serves as a testament to his insatiable curiosity about the world. His artistic oeuvre transcends conventional boundaries, elevating everyday, mass-produced objects—such as 99-cent-store Tupperware—into objects of greater intention and extended functionality, all while preserving their inherent origins.

At the heart of Beeston’s creations lies a profound exploration of the geometric, structural, and technological underpinnings of contemporary culture. Through his fascination with home goods, he champions the idea that people yearn for deeper, more emotional connections with their surroundings. This philosophy finds expression in his recent series of lamps, ingeniously fabricated from dollar store food containers and household hardware, embodying the concept of design via misuse—a relentless pursuit to transcend and elevate even the most mundane items, while challenging preconceived notions of material purpose.

Established in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Beeston’s studio serves as the crucible of his creative endeavors. His decade-long tenure as a studio assistant to acclaimed artist Tom Sachs equipped him with invaluable expertise in customized electronics and sculpture fabrication, enriching his artistic repertoire.

Beeston’s visionary artworks have graced the walls of esteemed galleries such as Patrick Parrish Gallery, Fisher Parrish Gallery, Ok Gallery, Coustof Waxman, Colette, and The Hole, captivating audiences with their ingenuity, functionality, and undeniable allure.

In the realm of contemporary art, Chris Beeston emerges as a trailblazing force, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, and challenging the very essence of artistic expression.

If asked to select one word to describe Patrick, I would resist and pick two. The first would be curiosity — a fundamental essential, to stimulate inquiry and rigour in all things, both great and small, of any era or region, type or surface. Even the most fleeting survey of this selection for sale is a celebration of innovation and of inspiration — an unerring eye for the unusually exceptional, or perhaps the exceptionally unusual. The chances are, that these are indeed discoveries that you have not yet realised that you needed to make. 

Mentor, would be my second word. If artefacts and objects articulate visual, cultural and historic language, then the fluency of skillful mentorship — to guide, nurture, describe and explain — releases the eloquence of murmuring histories. In this capacity Patrick is that most earnest and sincere of excellent narrators. If ever I had friends, clients or colleagues visiting New York looking for unusual inspiration, there was always the certainty that Patrick’s venues would offer them a glimpse of the hitherto unseen or the unusually seductive, always with the reassurance of the most fascinating story waiting to be told.