My works are mostly based on expressionist – neo-expressionist styles, and the content is a reaction to personal events, social change, and the psychological effect it has on a person or group. This is the source of inspiration for most of my artwork.

During the production of artwork, music is often thumping away in the back of my mind, having played mainly drums in noisy post-punk and sometimes, bluesy bands since mid-1977. I love creating musical soundscapes and developing journals full of flotsam and jetsam in my spare time that describe imaginative spaces and events.  I mostly enjoy developing artwork for personal satisfaction, and if an exhibition opportunity arises, it adds to the fun of creating at this point in my career.

Christopher Russell (aka) Xristo is an Australian Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, and Musician who has been working as an art educator, studying and producing visual art for exhibition and on commission since 1980. Original work and prints are available for sale directly through this website gallery and other various online and traditional gallery spaces.

Christopher is a multi-disciplinary artist, also experienced in wet media, darkroom-based photography, and management. In the late 1980’s he began exploring and studying the use of digital media for output in print and for the screen. From the mid-80s till early 2017, Chris was a teacher of senior visual arts, including subjects focused on illustration, design, photography, multimedia, printmaking, 3D, drawing, painting and design and fine art theory. During the 2000s, he was busy as an occasional art education consultant, writer, and tutor focusing on Fine Art theory and practices.

Throughout the mid-1990s into the late 2000s, he withdrew from regularly exhibiting artwork and concentrated more on freelance Graphic Design, Multimedia-Animation, and Photography. Since early 2017, he has revisited a more studio-oriented approach to fine art work when he resigned early from education due to health concerns and related injuries. Throughout his period as a practising artist, the work could be described as neo-expressionist with an emotive edge and a strong connection to the subject. Sometimes the artwork is melodramatic and humorous, while other images may be emotionally raw, with a universal connection to and representation of contemporary cultural events and social change, using symbolism and metaphors.

” I am not especially interested in using a formula to approach art making, and my style often varies if it suits the idea.”

Short Biography:

1980 – Diploma in Fine Art, Design, Photography, and Film-making at BH TAFE Institute.

1981 – 83 – B.A. Fine Art at RMIT.

1987 – Grad Dip Ed at Melbourne University.

1991 – 1992 – Grad Diploma, Technology and Training at Melbourne University. (Training Scholarship) 

Art Educator – Graphic Design, Photography – darkroom and digital, Multimedia, Media – Computer Arts and Fine Art. Mostly VCE level at BHSSC. Held the position of drawing tutor at The CAE, employed at Deakin University. While at BHSSC, held various leadership positions, including Key Learning Area Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts from the late 1990s to mid-2000s. (Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts in the mid-2000s). BHSSC – computer manager, promotions in the early 2000s, Multimedia education consultant to Vic. Ed. Department, early 2000s.

Working as a professional visual artist since 1984 to the present.

Key Faculty Coordinator – Head of Visual and Performing Arts BHSSC 2007 – 2010

Musician in various bands since the late 1970s, Gothic Farmyard, Moonshots, The Delightfuls, PJ Blues Bands, and current project for enjoyment is Xtrobitz featuring multi-instrumental work, aka – Xristo,  Christopher Russell, and friends. Provided some session music work; i.e. drum tracks for various musicians and video soundscapes from the 1980s to 2010s.

Exhibitions: Displayed widely as a Visual Artist, Graphic Designer, and Illustrator since 1980. Work has been featured in various publications and advertising throughout Australia and overseas.

Collections: Work held in Public and Private collections – Australia and Overseas.

Exhibitions, traveling, solo and group shows –

1980 Age Gallery, Melbourne. Selected works. Student Art Exhibition.

1981 – Work selected for travelling exhibition, Age Gallery, Melbourne,  World Congress INSEA, Group Exhibition, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

1982 – RMIT Gallery, Student work exhibition.

1983 – RMIT Gallery, Student work exhibition.

1984 – Magazine illustration, Music Poster illustration work, 3CR public radio design promo work, etc.
T-shirt design work for Mixed Urban Media Design.

1985 – Group Exhibition Roar II, Fitzroy, Melbourne. Australia, Selected drawing artworks – Contemporaries Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, Selected Exhibition, Hyatt on Collins, Melbourne. Member of Roar 2.

1986 –  Selected work, group drawing exhibition, Antwerp, Belgium. 1986-7.

1988 – Solo Exhibition, The Moore Gallery, City, Melbourne. Australia. CAE building. Illustration & Design for Melbourne Super 8 Film Festival promotional poster and other clients. Commission – Phillip Institute Union (now part of RMIT), Illustration and Design – Into the PIT. Vic. Australia.

1989 –  9 x 5 Traveling Group Exhibition, Newcastle University, NSW. Australia.
Commission: Australian Nurses Federation Union Banner, Australia. Represented in a selected drawing exhibition, Boutique Gallery, Paris. France.

1990 – Commission – Illustration, Deakin University, Student Union. Represented in the former Jannssen Gallery Space. Selected drawing work exhibition, NYC. The USA.
• Represented in Roar II Gallery, Summer Salon Exhibition, Melbourne, Australia.
• Commission: Manningham City Council, Manningham Arts Festival Poster. Melbourne Australia.
• Book illustration work with Andy Griffiths, Freaking Out, Fish Bones, Mini Book – Xristo’s Wonderful World of Noses publications. Brainfight Press. Melbourne. Australia.

1990-91 – Commission: Manningham City Council, Manningham Arts Festival Poster. Melbourne.
• Commissions: photography work for ‘Beat Magazine’ street newspaper and Mother & Baby magazine.
• Promotional photography for Manningham City Council Gallery. • Moet Chandon Prize Exhibition entry.
• Radio 3RRR promo exhibition prize runner-up. Exhibition at Dangerfield in Melbourne.

1993 –  Illustration & Design Cards series, Fitzroy Gallery. Melbourne. • Freelance Illustration as Xristo Artworks.

1994 – Illustration and Design for Novo Nordisk promotional material, South East Asia, Malaysia. (for Media Mas) Illustration & Design promotional work for BHSSC Education Department, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

1995 – Illustration & Design work for Monash University Books. Illustration & Design work for the Education Department (Education Week), Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

1996 – published, Step by Step Graphics, USA. article. Produced graphic design and illustration work on commission.

1997 – Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions in Australia.

1998 – Produced graphic design and illustration work on commission. Illustration & Design for Youth Booklet. The Catholic Church Office, Melbourne.
Selected exhibition ‘Beach Time’, Gold Coast, Queensland. Australia.

1999 – 2000 – Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions for clients like Novo-Nordisk, The Australian Catholic Church, RMIT – Philip Institute Union, The ANF Nursing Union Melbourne, Monash University Bookstore, Deakin University Student Union, Manningham City Council, Vic, Ed Department, etc.

2001 – Beach play submission for selected drawing exhibition. JA-Gallery, L.A. USA.  Multimedia design – animation, BHSSC, Tennis Australia, website. Multimedia animation, BHSSC, Tennis Australia, website.

2002 –  Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions. e.g. Design for Rainbird Corporation, Australia.

2003 – Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions. e.g. various clients – Identity design.

2004 – Animation sequence – part of Vic. TAFE promotion advertisement aired on Channel 10.
TV broadcasting, Melbourne. Australia.

2005 – Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions. DVD audiovisual design.

2006 – Selected works, ‘Sunburn’ drawing group exhibition – Gold Coast Galleries. Qld. Australia.

2007 – Photographic work, portrait prize exhibition, Melbourne. Australia.

2009 – Selected work exhibition – Tee Artspace. NYC, USA.

2012 – Commission wall mural, Templestowe. Vic. Australia.

2013 – Selected work exhibited, Paris, France. Plein air – drawing prize exhibition entry.

2014 – Produced graphic design and illustration work commissions.

2015 – Studio, The Group Exhibition space, The Lost series – Adolescent Wellbeing.

2017 – Worked on a drawing and painting series titled ‘ Pathway’.  In 2017 also worked on digital video and editing for a music/band video clip.
2018 – 23. A member of Art Aviso Visual Arts group.
2018 – Commission artwork, painting: Regrowth at Pheasant Creek.
2018 – Small Group Exhibition, at Fortyfive Downstairs Gallery, Flinders Lane, Melbourne.
2018 – Postcard Group Exhibition at Linden New Art, Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne.

2019 – Selected work entry, January – ‘Naked’. ‘What’s nu(de) in contemporary art’ at JanKossen Contemporary Gallery. New York.
2019 – Artaviso 1.0 Event. Selected entry – Group exhibition, April, at No-Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne.

2019 – 20 – Postcard Group Exhibition at Linden New Art, Gallery, St Kilda, Melbourne. Australia.

2020 – Artaviso event. Door-to-door online selected works exhibition also displayed at No Vacancy, Gallery, Melbourne.  https://www.artaviso.com/10939-2/?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=Art_Aviso_Door_to_Door&utm_medium=email

2021 – Artaviso event 7.0. The Garden of Loss and Triumph. A4-sized artwork on linen. Selected works exhibited in Melbourne and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Late 2021.

2022 –  Artaviso online Exhibition, ‘Vacation Nation’ – https://www.artaviso.com/christopher-russell-2/
2022 –  Garden of Loss and Triumph, group show, curated by Artaviso, NDSM FUSE. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 1-18 September.
2022 – Door to Door, group exhibition, curated by Artaviso, Lite-Haus Galerie + Projektraum – Berlin. Group exhibition. Germany. 8-24 September.

2023 – Little Pieces Small Works Exhibition – Fly Little Bird Gallery, Coburg Nth, Vic. Aust.  17 Nov – 9 Dec.

2024 – Red Gallery. Nth Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. Work on paper group exhibition. June – July.
2024  – Red Gallery. Nth Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. Christmas Group Show. Nov – December 6 – 22nd.
2025 – X

Bibliography: Music and Visual Arts.

1980 – Manningham Leader News article. Student INSEA Exhibition in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

1984 – Sun Newspaper, Melbourne. Music review: Gothic Farmyard.

1984 – Sun Newspaper, Melbourne. Music interview with Gothic Farmyard.

1984 – A-Z magazine interview, Mara Smarelli, and 3PBS Radio interview.

1984 – Juke Music newspaper – music review Ian McFarlane.

1985 – The Age, Roar 2, Group show exhibition review.
The Sun Newspaper, Music column, Paul Stewart, Roar 2, Exhibition promotion.

1988 – Art Almanac promotion article for 1988 exhibition, Moore Gallery. Melbourne.

1990 – West Australian – ‘Freaking Out’ Book review.
Beat Magazine, Book Review, 3RRR, radio interview.
Miranda McDonald, InPress, News, Melbourne (Apr 02, 1990)

1995 – Step by Step, Dynamic Graphics. The USA. A brief article published ref: printmaking.

2000 – VCAA article published.

2018 – Selected artwork is shown on the IEM online gallery.

2019 – No-Vacancy Gallery – Artaviso 1.0 Event April, catalogue.

2020 – Artaviso Event. Door-to-door exhibition catalog.

2021 – Garden of Loss and Triumph. Artaviso Themed exhibition. Work has been shown online in the digital exhibition and No Vacancy Gallery. Melbourne.
2021 – Vacation Nation.  Artaviso-themed exhibition online Vacation Nation Art. https://www.artaviso.com/christopher-russell-2/

2023 – Bored Panda website article – Guitar Series 2018 – 2022 by Christopher Russell
https://www.boredpanda.com/i-am-a-visual-artist-who-created-a-series-of-quirky-guitars-paintings-12-pics/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

2023 – Art Magazino Monthly – Online Art Fanzine. December 2023 profile art feature.
https://klewn-mccleiaff-priiks.yolasite.com/    Italy.