Born in Tarrytown, New York, Heather Chontos now resides and works in a village house in La Tour-Blanche, France. From a young age, Chontos harnessed the “power of gestures to create instinctive compositions, combining bold colors, dynamic marks, and organic forms.” The artist received a BA in Art History from the University College London, and has exhibited widely with shows in New Jersey, Florida, Maine, Montana, California, Berlin, Brescia, Barcelona, Namur, London, Paris, and New York.

Chontos turns the image of her mind’s eye into a reality with her physically and emotionally hands on approach to painting that embodies a sculptural quality. In her new series, A Time of Sand, the 43 year-old painter’s body of work is representative of the current and past moments in nature, constantly changing over the past three years she has lived in France.

Those familiar with Chontos’ work might recall the influences of travel and exploration during her wandering as she discovered the differences of light and culture throughout the world. The paintings created for A Time of Sand, exhibition April 2023 at Voltz Clarke Gallery, have profited from her staying still in the deep countryside of South Western France giving her an opportunity to enjoy and experience this singularity. She has been witness to the changing elements and seasons and their effects on a single place. These works are visual notes, and deep reflections of her personal journey as she observed changes in light and time, like the moving sand in an hourglass.

Education

BA, Art History, University College London, London, England

Exhibitions

2022
Aux Sources, Tourrette, Paris, France
Wildflower, Simard Bilodeau Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA

2021
SHINRIN-YOKU 森林浴, Carole Korngold, Tourrette, Paris, France
Heads Full Of Poetry, Simard Bilodeau Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA

2020
Rosengarten, Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, NY
Transatlantico, Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
Start Somewhere, Voltz Clarke x Penske Projects, Online, August 5th-September 25th

2019
Lontano, The Colony Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL
Hōjōki, Galerie Baull, Berlin, Germany

2018
Weightless, Voltz Clarke Gallery, New York, NY
Artist-in-Residency at Palazzo Monti in Brescia, Italy

2017
SPECTRUM, Gallery East 104th, New York, NY

2016
Departures Collection, 53 Tapioles, Barcelona, Spain
starting point, Rive Gauche Gallery, Namur, Belgium

2015
Solo exhibition, Havens Kitchen, New York, NY

2014
Oceans and Arrows, Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME

2012
dead flower series, Warehouse Gallery, Missoula, MT

2009
Sawkille Gallery, Rhinebeck, NY

2003
Linda Kirkland Gallery, Chelsea, NY

2001
Broken Places, Stephen Lacey Gallery, London, UK