Portrait of artist Chris Harmon standing in front a selection of his artwork

Chris Harmon is a mixed-media artist that resides in the Charleston, South Carolina area. He was born in Florida and grew up in southern West Virginia. In 2008, he graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focusing in sculpture with a minor in business administration. He has over 15 years of experience in commercial graphic design work.

Seeking to break out of the digital realm and return to his roots in physical media, he reignited his passion for figurative art at the beginning of 2024. His current work places the beauty of the human form against abstract explorations of texture, pattern and material. Tapping into his prior education in sculpture, he is enticed by the concept of paintings as objects. He experiments with unusual substrates and materials such as cement and often attaches objects in and around the surface of his work.


I don’t just work on a painting—I work in, around, and through it. My process is immersive, treating each piece as an object, not just an image. Using oil paint, gold leaf, textiles, and found materials, I create textures that invite touch and exploration.

Focusing on the human form, I blend classical techniques with experimental texture and materiality. Patterns and raised surfaces blur the line between painting and sculpture.

Embracing unpredictability, I let materials shape the outcome, layering, scraping, and reworking. My goal is to create paintings that feel alive, engaging the viewer through texture, movement, and depth.


Education

2004-2008

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Sculpture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

Minor in Business Administration, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV


Solo Exhibitions

2025

TBA Park Circle Art Gallery, Charleston, SC


Group Exhibitions

2025

Piccolo Spoleto Juried Art Exhibition, City Gallery, Charleston, SC

North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Fine Art Competition and Exhibition, Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston, SC

2024

Trashy: A Sustainable Group Show, Storehouse 9, North Charleston, SC

South Carolina Festival of Flowers Juried Art Show, Greenwood Arts Center, Greenwood, SC

North Charleston Arts Fest Judged Fine Art Competition and Exhibition, Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston, SC


PUBLICATIONS

2025

SouthCarolinaVoyager.com: Life & Work with Chris Harmon of Johns Island
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