Chris Nelck

Chris Nelck grew up immersed in art, attending museums from a young age. He entered the Willem de Kooning Academy at 15, initially studying photography before shifting to fine arts. His work is influenced by his Trans and Queer identity, which permeates his practice. Nelck has also studied at Kunsthøgskolen in Oslo and is known for integrating writing into his projects, often publishing texts alongside his artworks.  

For Best of Graduates 2024, Chris presents a personal series of paintings. Nelck’s art embodies “radical openness,” a term he uses to describe his transparent approach to expressing his secrets, shame, desires, and emotions. The paintings are visualizations of Nelck’s performance piece Midas, and at the same time also the inspiration for the performance. This series delves into themes of Trans and Queer shame, transforming these experiences into acts of resistance. Inspired by Mario Mieli’s quote from Towards a Gay Communism, Nelck’s performances involve writing secrets in shells and burying them, reminiscent of the Greek myth of King Midas. This act symbolizes the spreading of secrets, aiming for viewers to recognize and resonate with these shared experiences.