Christine Lashley’s paintings are grounded in realism, and yet distinctly painterly, creating a peaceful feeling that seems to wash over you when viewing them. Working with oils, the artist is best known for her vivid landscapes and city scenes that capture the essence of the locale, be it Paris, the Mid-Atlantic and beyond.
Coastal Rhythm, oil on linen, 40 x 72 in.
In her new body of work, Lashley is exploring the Lowcountry of Charleston, South Carolina, in a solo show at Principle Gallery. Collectors will find depictions of Charleston, including marshlands and boggy beach scenes, as well as urbanscapes reflecting the charming architecture of the city.
“This latest body of work moves beyond concrete description toward interpretation, shaped by fleeting encounters with light and atmosphere,” Lashley explains. “Coastal Rhythm and Early Light Charlestongrew out of numerous visits to paint and explore Charleston. The paintings draw on a mix of memory, on-site studies and photo references, allowing the work to remain rooted in place while evolving beyond strict observation.”
Paris Luminosity, oil on linen, 20 x 30 in.
If you’ve been to Chucktown, you’ll immediately pick up on the defining features in Lashley’s paintings, even if they’ve been slightly warped. Take Early Light Charleston, for instance, which the artist painted just after dawn walking to the Battery downtown.
Facade Flickers, oil on linen, 30 x 20 in.
“Recognizable elements—marsh grasses, a particular street, the structure of a shoreline—are often present, but forms may be shifted or layered so the painting reflects the experience of the moment rather than a literal record of it,” she says. While most of the artist’s ideas come together through direct observation painting in plein air, she strives to blend elements of reality, memory and emotion into each of her paintings, creating something wholly original.
Paris Story, oil on linen, 30 x 40 in.
“The balance between bold mark-making and a soft, atmospheric presence develops through layered paint and an openness to spontaneity. Energetic gestures establish movement and structure, while successive layers of color and light create a quieter sense of depth and calm. The aim is for the paintings to feel alive and responsive—grounded in observation, but guided by intuition and the memory of being there,” says the artist.
Blue Harmony, oil on linen, 40 x 72 in.
Principle Gallery assistant director Carson Reeder says, “Christine Lashley has put together yet another great solo show, highlighting beautiful landscapes [and] thoughtfully portraying the memories associated with the scenery through a combination of bold mark-making and an all around softness to her compositions.”
Early Light Charleston, oil on linen, 30 x 60 in.
Lashley holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and has studied at the Sorbonne and Parsons in Paris. She has won numerous awards for her work, including Best of Show at events like Plein Air Telluride, Bath County and En Plein Air Texas, as well as awards with Oil Painters of America and at the ARC International Salon, among others.
Her solo exhibition at Principle Gallery opens with a reception on Friday, April 3, from 5 to 8 p.m., and remains on view for the rest of the month. —
Principle Gallery 125 Meeting Street • Charleston, SC 29401 (843) 727-4500 • www.principlegallery.com
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