Chris Haas

Artist Statement

My work is created from a place of curiosity and a love of Process. I find myself reinventing reality using existing objects and discarded artifacts. I’m intrigued by the relationship between materials and composition, and how design and flow are affected by manipulating shapes, space, and layers of color. Customizing and modifying the world around me provides a creative outlet as well as mental and spiritual stability.

Biography

Chris Haas uses animal skulls and mixed media to create his unique sculptures, combining his passions for both nature and art. His work is an evolutionary result of years, collecting skulls and using them in different forms of art. Haas’s work simultaneously conveys a sense of impermanence and rebirth. His use of classic elements intertwined with an otherworldly dark overtone gives the impression of a timeless mystique. The pieces could be reminiscent of an ancient era long since passed, or perhaps from an infinitely distant future.

Haas’s approach towards his work is based on an utmost respect and admiration for the animals once living within the materials that are his canvas. With this reverence, he meticulously embellishes and adorns each skull; enriched with deep colors, textures, jeweled third eyes and intricate designs. However, even throughout these modifications, you can still see an echo of the creatures that previously existed, which is an important factor to truly admiring Haas’s work. Acknowledging the roots of every sculpture creates a further respect for the process each piece of art has gone through.

Haas is a self-taught artist originally from Hays, Kansas, and now lives with his family in southwest Colorado. His work has been exhibited and collected internationally.