Chris Dorland

Chris Dorland

Chris Dorland works at the intersection of painting, image systems, and digital media, examining how images are shaped by the technical systems that produce and process them. Drawing from screenshots, scans, data graphics, compressed files, and digitally generated imagery, the work follows visual information as it moves through layers of software, hardware, and material constraints.

Abstraction emerges not as a stylistic choice but as a byproduct of compression, distortion, and loss. Images are not treated as representations but as outputs of ongoing systems, shaped by the behavior and limits of the technologies through which they pass. These image processes are extended into painting and installation, where mediation, compression, and degradation become material conditions rather than visual effects. Surfaces accumulate striations, noise, and distortions that function indexically, registering system behavior under continuous operation.

Neither fully abstract nor conventionally representational, the work operates as a hybrid interface in which digital and physical logics converge without resolving. Meaning is held in suspension rather than clarified, reflecting a contemporary condition in which systems continue to function even as coherence, legibility, and assurance erode.

Chris Dorland (b. 1978, Montreal) is a Canadian/American artist living and working in New York. His work has been exhibited in FRONT INTERNATIONAL: The Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art, Cleveland, US; Nicoletti Contemporary, London, UK; Super Dakota, Brussels, BE. He has exhibited in galleries such as Marc Selwyn Fine Art, Los Angeles, US; Sikkema Jenkins, New York, US; Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Chicago, US. His work is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, US; Bronx Museum of Art, New York, US; and Neuberger Museum of Art, New York, US among others. He is Director-at-Large at Magenta Plains.

Chris Dorland
untitled (passive empire) , 2024
Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen
72 x 60 inches, 182.9 x 152.4 cm — Chris Dorland
*untitled (passive empire)*, 2024
Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen
72 x 60 inches, 182.9 x 152.4 cm

untitled (passive empire) , 2024 (detail view) — *untitled (passive empire)*, 2024 (detail view)

Chris Dorland
untitled (life loader) , 2024
Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating on paper
30 x 22 inches, 76.2 x 55.9 cm — Chris Dorland
*untitled (life loader)*, 2024
Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating on paper
30 x 22 inches, 76.2 x 55.9 cm

Chris Dorland, untitled (cipher) , 2023, Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen , 84 x 66 inches, 213.4 x 167.6 cm — Chris Dorland, *untitled (cipher)*, 2023, Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen , 84 x 66 inches, 213.4 x 167.6 cm

Chris Dorland, untitled (shellcode) , 2023, Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen , 84 x 66 inches, 213.4 x 167.6 cm — Chris Dorland, *untitled (shellcode)*, 2023, Acrylic polymer, pigment, gesso, UV coating with aluminum stretcher bars on linen , 84 x 66 inches, 213.4 x 167.6 cm

Chris Dorland, untitled (shellcode) , 2023 (detail) — Chris Dorland, *untitled (shellcode)*, 2023 (detail)

Chris Dorland, untitled (parallel port) , 2023, 12 sec looping single channel video, 4k 3840 × 2160, Aspect ratio 16:9 — Chris Dorland, *untitled (parallel port)*, 2023, 12 sec looping single channel video, 4k 3840 × 2160, Aspect ratio 16:9

Chris Dorland, shellcode , Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, February 24 – April 1, 2023 — Chris Dorland, *shellcode*, Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, February 24 – April 1, 2023

Chris Dorland, New Day , Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, February 12 - March 14, 2021 — Chris Dorland, *New Day*, Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, February 12 - March 14, 2021

Chris Dorland, Untitled (drain cartridge) , 2020, Ink, acrylic, UV gel on linen , 36 x 24 inches, 91.4 x 61 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (drain cartridge)*, 2020, Ink, acrylic, UV gel on linen , 36 x 24 inches, 91.4 x 61 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (drain cartridge) , 2020 (detail) — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (drain cartridge)* , 2020 (detail)

Chris Dorland, Untitled (instinct mode) , 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (instinct mode)*, 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (leviathan II) , 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 92 inches, 160 x 233.7 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (leviathan II)*, 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 92 inches, 160 x 233.7 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (leviathan II) , 2020 (detail) — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (leviathan II)*, 2020 (detail)

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Drift Upload) , 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Drift Upload)*, 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Active User , Installation View at Nicoletti Contemporary, London, UK, January 10 - March 28, 2020 — Chris Dorland, *Active User*, Installation View at Nicoletti Contemporary, London, UK, January 10 - March 28, 2020

Chris Dorland, Civilian , Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, January 12 - February 11, 2018 — Chris Dorland, *Civilian*, Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, January 12 - February 11, 2018

Chris Dorland, FLR-13 , 2020, Nicoletti Digital interactive website — Chris Dorland, *FLR-13*, 2020, Nicoletti Digital interactive website

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Civilian) , 2017, Dual-channel video, Runtime: 1 minute, 35-second loop, Video still — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Civilian)*, 2017, Dual-channel video, Runtime: 1 minute, 35-second loop, Video still

Chris Dorland, Synthetic Skin , Installation view, Super Dakota, Brussels, BE, March 1 - April 13, 2019 — Chris Dorland, *Synthetic Skin*, Installation view, Super Dakota, Brussels, BE, March 1 - April 13, 2019

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Apache Struts) , 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Apache Struts)*, 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Apache Struts) , 2017, (detail) — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Apache Struts)* , 2017, (detail)

Chris Dorland, Untitled (bleeding edge) , 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (bleeding edge)*, 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Body Degree Zero) , 2017, UV ink on Dibond, aluminum frame, 26 x 18 inches, 66 x 45.7 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Body Degree Zero)*, 2017, UV ink on Dibond, aluminum frame, 26 x 18 inches, 66 x 45.7 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (breach) , 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (breach)*, 2020, Acrylic polymer, pigment, ink, gesso, UV coating on linen, 68 x 46 inches, 172.7 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Coil Whine) , 2017, UV ink on Alumacore, 2 panels: 88 x 78 inches, 223.5 x 198.1 cm, Each: 88 x 39 inches, 223.5 x 99.1 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Coil Whine)*, 2017, UV ink on Alumacore, 2 panels: 88 x 78 inches, 223.5 x 198.1 cm, Each: 88 x 39 inches, 223.5 x 99.1 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Core Dump) , 2017, UV ink on Arcylite, Mounting Dream, MD2361-K TV Wall Mount Bracket, 32 x 18 inches, 81.3 x 45.7 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Core Dump)*, 2017, UV ink on Arcylite, Mounting Dream, MD2361-K TV Wall Mount Bracket, 32 x 18 inches, 81.3 x 45.7 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Debt Economy/Ratchet Straps) , 2016, Ultrachrome ink, gesso, canvas, linen, cotton, and UV gel on stretcher bars, 60 x 80 inches, 152.4 x 203.2 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Debt Economy/Ratchet Straps)*, 2016, Ultrachrome ink, gesso, canvas, linen, cotton, and UV gel on stretcher bars, 60 x 80 inches, 152.4 x 203.2 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Drone Psychic) , 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Drone Psychic)*, 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Halo) , 2017, Single-channel video, Runtime: 16-second loop, Video still — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Halo)*, 2017, Single-channel video, Runtime: 16-second loop, Video still

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Host Receptable, Gender Recall) , 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Host Receptable, Gender Recall)*, 2017, UV Ink on Alumacore, 94 x 46 inches, 238.8 x 116.8 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Memory Cortex) , 2017, Single-channel video, Runtime: 32-second loop, Video still — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Memory Cortex)*, 2017, Single-channel video, Runtime: 32-second loop, Video still

Chris Dorland, Untitled (Soft Power) , 2016, Ultrachrome ink, gesso, canvas, linen, cotton, and UV gel on stretcher bars, 78 x 78 inches, 198.1 x 198.1 cm — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (Soft Power)*, 2016, Ultrachrome ink, gesso, canvas, linen, cotton, and UV gel on stretcher bars, 78 x 78 inches, 198.1 x 198.1 cm

Chris Dorland, Untitled (species II) , 2020, 4k Ultra HD resolution, 1 minute 40 second looped, Edition of 3 + 2 AP, video still — Chris Dorland, *Untitled (species II)*, 2020, 4k Ultra HD resolution, 1 minute 40 second looped, Edition of 3 + 2 AP, video still

Chris Dorland

Chris Dorland

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