Craighead Green Gallery Explores Environmental Perception in Three Concurrent Exhibitions

Craighead Green Gallery is set to present three distinct exhibitions featuring the works of Chris Stewart, Jon Krawczyk, and Arturo Mallmann. While differing in medium and execution, the collective presentations examine the concept of “environment” as a subjective construct rather than a fixed external reality. The works suggest that the spaces individuals occupy are fundamentally shaped by memory, emotion, and the presence of the observer.

Chris Stewart: In Between

In the exhibition In Between, Chris Stewart utilizes oil on canvas to explore the intersection of memory and physical space. Rather than depicting literal landscapes, Stewart’s paintings are composed of fragments of atmosphere and sensation. His process involves the accumulation and recession of gesture and color, resulting in forms that occupy a space between clarity and obscurity.

A significant aspect of Stewart’s recent work is the introduction of sculptural interruptions. By making physical cuts through the painted surface, the artist exposes the underlying structure of the canvas, emphasizing a sense of fragility. These interventions, combined with the inclusion of natural elements such as stones and flowers, serve to ground the abstract compositions in the physical world while questioning the boundary between a constructed image and a lived environment.

Jon Krawczyk: Colorfully Reflected

Jon Krawczyk approaches the theme of environment through biomorphic sculpture. Working with mirrored stainless steel and patinated bronze, Krawczyk creates unique objects that appear shaped by natural forces. Each piece is formed through a process of cutting, welding, and heat manipulation; notably, the artist avoids the use of molds, ensuring that every sculpture carries a distinct physical record of its creation.

The highly polished stainless-steel works are designed to interact directly with their surroundings. These mirrored surfaces capture and distort the gallery’s architecture and its visitors, effectively turning the environment into an active collaborator. This fluidity is contrasted by Krawczyk’s bronze sculptures, which possess a geological weight. Their deep patinas—ranging from earthy tones to blues and greens—suggest ancient formations, establishing a dialogue between movement and stillness.

Arturo Mallmann: The Grip of Fear and Hope

Arturo Mallmann’s mixed-media paintings explore psychological interiors where the human figure confronts the distinction between loneliness and solitude. Mallmann posits that while loneliness confines the individual, solitude can expand one’s connection to the world. His figures are situated within monumental architectural environments that are simultaneously intimate and overwhelming.

In Mallmann’s work, light functions as a primary structural element rather than a reflection of natural laws. This light emerges as an independent presence within the painted space, shaping the architecture and intensifying the emotional atmosphere. The resulting images occupy a state of suspension between dream and reality, focusing on the individual’s search for reconciliation with the surrounding world.

Chris Stewart, Interlude, 2025, 61 x 49 in,
Oil on canvas in walnut frame

Exhibition Details

The exhibitions will be on view at Craighead Green Gallery, located at 167 Parkhouse, Dallas, Texas, from March 28 through April 25, 2026. An opening reception will be held on March 28 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.