We are celebrating Chris Longridge, the Overall Winner and Painting Category Winner of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024. Based in Kent, United Kingdom, Longridge has captivated the jury with his profound exploration of painting in a post-digital world, a theme that runs through his meticulously crafted oil paintings. His works are not only a testament to his technical skill but also to his ability to merge the traditions of the Old Masters with modern digital reconstructions.
Pushing the Boundaries of Post-Digital Painting
Chris Longridge’s artistic practice revolves around questioning the limitations and opportunities of painting in an era where digital manipulation dominates much of the visual arts. His works are rooted in classical techniques, but reinterpreted and challenged by contemporary digital processes. Longridge’s oil paintings, such as his award-winning piece “N-dimensional hyperJesus (after Rubens)” (oil on linen, 120×120 cm), provide a visual commentary on time, space, and cosmology.
By using digital reconstructions of Old Masters’ paintings as the foundation of his work, Longridge creates figures that emerge from the void. His paintings are more than just representations—they are layered with philosophical questions about meaning, non-being, and the role of traditional art forms in a digitally dominated world. The fluidity of digital manipulation is juxtaposed with the tactile reality of oil paint, creating a constant flux in the two-dimensionality of his figures.
Notable Achievements
Chris Longridge is no stranger to recognition. In 2023, he won Jackson’s Painting Prize (Portrait and Figure) and exhibited his work at London’s Bankside Gallery as well as the Affordable Art Fair. His talents also caught the public eye on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year, where he won his heat in 2020 by painting actor Noel Clarke, who personally selected Longridge’s painting to take home. He later returned to paint Katie Piper in 2021, once again impressing viewers with his portraiture skills.
His works, which blend digital reworkings of classical paintings with the precision of oil paint, have also been exhibited in the Portrait Artist of the Year Retrospective at Compton Verney in 2022.
Work Featured in the Finalist Exhibition
At the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 Finalist Exhibition, hosted at the prestigious Bakerhouse Gallery in Graz, Austria, Longridge’s pieces garnered significant attention. His exhibited works—“Everything that ever happened did not happen (after Moroni),” “Everything that ever happened is yet to happen (after del Sarto),” and “Everything that ever happened is still happening (after Velazquez)”—captivated the audience with their complex interplay between classical art and post-digital reinterpretation. All three of his exhibited works sold at the opening of the finalist exhibition.
The exhibition, which opened on October 18th, marked a pivotal moment for Longridge’s career, bringing his work to an international stage. His unique approach to merging classical art with digital elements resonated with the jury and audience alike, making him the clear choice for the Overall Winner of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024.
Looking Forward
As the Overall and Category Painting Winner, Chris Longridge will receive a €5,000 cash prize and a two-year gallery representation with Bakerhouse Gallery.
Furthermore, Chris Longridge will be awarded a shared exhibition booth at both Discovery Art Fair Frankfurt 2024 and World Art Dubai 2025, along with an online solo exhibition on scan.art, and a physical award to commemorate his achievement. These exhibitions will allow him to continue showcasing his innovative works to a global audience.
A Journey of Artistic Innovation
Chris Longridge’s success at the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize 2024 is a testament to his ability to push the boundaries of painting. By embracing the post-digital world while staying rooted in traditional techniques, Longridge has created a body of work that not only reflects the complexities of the modern world but also invites viewers to engage with timeless philosophical questions.
His work exemplifies the very essence of the scan.art Emerging Artist Prize—celebrating emerging artists who bring fresh perspectives and innovation to the contemporary art scene.
To explore more of Chris Longridge’s exceptional work, visit his website at www.chrislongridge.com or his profile on scan.art.
