Mixed media
Chris Schranck is an award-winning artist inspired by nature and the freedom to explore and observe life during his formative years. His artistic journey began early, growing up in various parts of the United States, including North and South Dakota, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Colorado. Because his father, Barney, worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the family moved frequently. This allowed Chris to experience a wide range of outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, and hiking.
Through these experiences, he discovered the beauty of rocks, plants, trees, and wildlife, which inspired him to create art. He began making sculptures out of natural materials in nature itself. Once completed, he would leave them behind and observe as nature gradually reclaimed them—sometimes over the course of a year.
Chris took his first formal art class in high school, where he learned to work with clay and ceramics. His instructor, Larry Winegar, became both a mentor and a favorite teacher, encouraging him to continue exploring art as a form of expression rooted in nature.
Education has played an important role in Chris’s life. His mother was an educator and later owned a preschool. After high school, Chris attended Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado, where he pursued a dual major in Art and Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sports Science. In 1999, after working for several years at GNC and as a personal trainer, he returned to school at Metropolitan State College to further his studies in art.
In 2002, Chris founded Neo Art Studios, a studio and gallery located above Grace Gallery at the corner of 9th and Santa Fe in Denver, Colorado. There, he creates his work while also managing the studio and gallery.
Chris describes his primary artistic focus as “found object assemblies” in mixed media. He also creates a wide variety of hand-painted glass pieces, a practice that began with collecting glass as found objects. He sources many of his materials by walking the alleys of Denver, though he finds inspiration everywhere. In addition, he produces representational works using ink and watercolor.
His creative process often begins with contemplating a piece for up to a month, though sometimes it starts with a discovered object. After sketching, he moves into the assembly phase, applying layers of molding paste and acrylic paint, then finishing with thin glazes of oil paint. Chris typically works on 15–20 pieces at a time, ensuring a continuous flow of new work.
In addition to art, Chris developed an early interest in bodybuilding after watching Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Olympia comeback on television in third grade. He began lifting weights at that age and continued through high school, where he also wrestled. Eventually, he started competing in bodybuilding, viewing it as another form of art—sculpting his own body.
Over a 22-year career, Chris won more than a dozen bodybuilding titles, including Mr. Natural Colorado, Mr. Natural North America, Mr. Natural America, and Mr. Natural Universe. After retiring from competition, he devoted himself fully to his art.
Chris has exhibited his work across the United States in solo and group exhibitions, as well as juried shows. His accolades include Best of Show at Gillian Arts in Central City, and Honorable Mentions at Art-Reach International and the Best of Santa Fe in Denver, Colorado.
