Chris Crites

For over ten years Chris Crites has been known for his tightly rendered and flawlessly detailed four and five color mug shot portraits hand-painted on brown paper bags. In addition to Crites' wonderful color choice combinations and phenomenal technical skill the relationship between his 'otherwise-disposable' media choice and subject matter is equally compelling.

In his own words, Chris Crites describes his work:
"Looking at mug shots is not too dissimilar from looking at someone's school year book from the past. Those captured moments when the camera seizes the expression; be it indifferent, indignant, arrogant, embarrassed, terrified. These are the photos from graduating into another stage of life. Was this the outfit they wanted to be remembered in? Were they just wishing no one would ever see it?
This is why I am fascinated by mug shots, looking into a special moment in someone else's world. All those different stories. All those different reasons for ending up in front of the camera, like it or not."

Chris Crites exhibits work worldwide and has been reviewed and profiled in publications such as the Chicago Tribune, Artworks Magazine, and Juxtapoz Magazine.