Christophe Piallat is a photographic and installation artist currently based out of Los Angeles, California. His practice embraces the line between creation and entropy, spectacle and serenity, light and landscape. Christophe’s career began in the late 1990’s when he transitioned from a film and stage carpenter to a commercial and fine art photographer. Utilizing his experience in set construction, Christophe developed a unique synthesis of photography and installation art he coins, “Living Photography.” His practice is interested in capturing light and transforming material. Similar the photographic process, his installations reorder light and transform basic material to create an illusory stratum of form, experience, and imagery. His manipulation and illumination of everyday materials such as: paper, plastic, aluminum foil, and garbage bags transform the mundane into the supernatural.
After receiving a Masters of Fine Art from the San Francisco Art Institute in 2009, Christophe exhibited a 50’ long, four-window, paper and light installation at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. From there his work has been a part of several international exhibitions, including the 2010 Holland Paper Biennial, 2012 Santorini Biennial, SCOPE Art Basel 2015, and the Lumina Light Festival in 2016. Christophe’s work has been published in several international art anthologies, books, and magazines.
Along with fine art, Christophe has also collaborated on several design and commercial productions. Collaborations include: commercial and residential interior design projects, music and fashion productions, branding and image licensing. Christophe has also hosted multiple lectures and workshops at international exhibitions, universities, and community festivals.
Christophe Piallat
Education
MFA, San Francisco Art Institute, 2009
BA, Boston University, 1993
Exhibitions/ Installations/ Events
Art Swagger 2023, Rottet Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
Currently: Caldera #5, 2022, The Rosewood Hotel, Guangzhou, China. My favorite lily pad, 2021. Prototype launch, Prosser Reservoir, Truckee, CA. What Lies Inside, Stays inside 2021, Pasadena Playhouse Grant & Public Art display. . Currently: Hallway to speakeasy Josephine, Long Beach, CA. Currently: Ceremonial Hallways, Beverly Hills Classic, Beverly Hills, CA. Currently: Terra Incognita, The Solarium, M Design Studio, Pasadena, CA. 2019 The Solarium Grand Opening, Catwalk of the Solstice Queen, Pasadena, CA. 5/20/19 Humane Society, Beauty for Paws, Pasadena, CA. 2018 Astral Sol Train, 2018 Video shoot #1, Canterbury Records Cornerstore, Pasadena, CA. 2018 What Lies Inside, Stays Inside, Canterbury Records Cornerstore, Pasadena, CA, 2016-2020 Lumina Light Festival, Navegantes Cathedral, Cascais Portugal 2016
SCOPE Art Basel, Paper View, Basel, Switzerland 2015
The Black Cat, My Dinner Plans, Sliverlake window installation, LA CA. 2015
Canyonlands National Park, Insights, Land art installation, Arizona, 2014
Taos Gorge, Taos Interventions, Land art installation, 2014
Dacia Gallery, Art Show on Broadway, New York, NY, 2013
1st International Biennale of Santorini, Santorini, Greece, July 1 - September 30, 2012
Barrett Art Center, Photowork 2012, Poughkeepsie, NY, 2012
Dacia Gallery, Algedonics, New York, NY, 2012
View Arts Center, Rocks, Paper, Scissors, Old Forge, NY, 2012
BQE Studios, Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY, 2011
CODA Museum, Holland Paper Biennial 2010, Apeldorn, The Netherlands
Root Division, Raw, San Francisco, CA. 2009
The Warfield Theater, Wonderland, San Francisco, CA. 2009
SFMOMA Artist Gallery, Enfolded, San Francisco, CA. 2009
San Francisco Art Institute, Vernissage, San Francisco, CA. 2009
San Francisco Art Institute, Aurora Borealis, San Francisco, CA. 2009
Barberlounge, San Francisco, CA. 2009
Swell Gallery, Wilderness, San Francisco, CA. 2008
Art Engine, Exploding View, San Francisco, CA. 2007
Find Gallery, San Francisco, CA, 2007
Royal Palace, Natural World Museum, U. N. Intl. Environmental Exhibition, Desertification, Algiers, Algeria June 2006
SFO Airport Museum, Portals, San Francisco, CA. 2005 - 2006
Levy Art & Architecture, Portals, San Francisco, CA. 2006
Crucible Steel Gallery, Open Studios, San Francisco, CA. 2005
Natural World Museum, Art in to Action, Ft. Mason, San Francisco, CA. 2005
Minna Gallery, Urban Jungle, San Francisco, CA. 2005
Smithgroup, You are here, San Francisco, CA. 2005
Provo Art Center, You are here, Provo, UT. 2004
Soma Arts Gallery, Visual Aid, San Francisco, CA. 2004
Sony Metreon, Ghosts, San Francisco, CA. 2004
Period Gallery, Landscapes III, Omaha, NE. 2003
Shippensburg University, Photo Awards, Shippensburg, PA. 2003
G-Corp, Cutting Down, San Francisco, CA. 2003
White Line Gallery, Desert Relics, San Francisco, CA. 2002
Soma Arts Gallery, IATSE showcase, San Francisco, CA. 2001
Publications
Album artwork for Lorenzo Masotto’s album, Frames 2019 Runway Magazine, Nik West at What lies inside, Stays inside, 2017 DasGoetheanum, December edition 2016
Paradise of Paper Art, Designerbooks, 2013
Paper-craft 2, Design and Art with Paper, Gestalten Press, 2011
Holland Paper Biennial, Museum Rijswijk Press, 2010