Christian Bachez (b. 2001) is a painter, muralist, digital artist, and photographer born, raised and currently living in Alphabet City, New York. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in Psychology and Visual Arts.
Christian’s introspective work teeters between celebratory exuberance and political commentary. The vivid splashes of paint and realistic subjects resonate with both historical and modern sensibilities, serving as an entry point for viewers of all ages. Themes of addiction, preservation versus destruction, empathy, and social inequities emerge from his own experience or conversations with others and are delicately woven into each work.
Christian draws inspiration from both the vibrant culture and complex social dynamics of his current and childhood surroundings. His educational background in fine arts and psychology, coupled with his keen interest in social justice, informs his distinctive artistic voice. Through his work, he encourages viewers to engage in meaningful conversations and to contemplate their own contributions to the world.
(Photo by Michael Ivins)
Student Spotlight mini-doc made by The College of the Holy Cross’ Marketing Team
Artist Statement
I began making art in response to the tragedy, confusion, and isolation of the pandemic. Like so many others, I was struggling to find hope and meaning in a world that seemed to be getting darker and more divided every day. During this time, I came to appreciate the incredible power of public art to both speak for and to the communities it resides in. Amidst the bleak backdrop of the pandemic, the bright, beautiful murals in the neighborhood seemed to be emblems of resilience and hope. They reminded me of the public art pieces of my childhood in Alphabet City that became focal points for our community to gather and celebrate.
In these challenging times, I strive to create murals that reflect the colorful, celebratory spaces of my childhood. By fusing hip-hop, illustration, portraiture, and cartoons, I create bright, whimsical imagery that reminds my audience of the irreplaceable value of lightheartedness and play. I make it a priority to be conscious of a community’s needs, history, and population when designing a piece; I understand the importance of a viewer’s identification in all forms of art as a means to obtain a sense of belongingness in a given environment. The levity of my work serves as an entry point for people of all ages and backgrounds, a space where they can connect with joy and imagination-and with each other.
Experience in the Arts
Education
2023 B.A., Cum Laude, Visual Arts & Psychology, College of the Holy Cross
2019 Xavier High School
2015 Brooklyn Jesuit Prep
Grants/Awards
2024 Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) Fellowship.
2024 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Semi-Finalist.
2023 Holy Cross Psychology Department, George J. Allen Ph.D., ‘65 Psychology Award.
2023 Holy Cross Student Leadership Awards, Saint Ignatius of Loyola Award.
2023 MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists and Greater Worcester Community Foundation Business of Art Cohort.
2023 Green Fund Award for Kimball Floor Decal Project.
2023 Ignite Fund Award for Eastern Sociological Society Conference, Baltimore, MD.
2022 Holy Cross ODEI Good Trouble Program Fund for Jennessa Burks Artist Talk and Exhibition.
2022 Green Fund Award for Frondescence: A Sustainability and Environmental Awareness show.
2022 National Endowment for the Arts and Worcester Arts Council Project Grants for Individuals for the Quinsigamond Village Elementary School Mural Project.
2022 Worcester Arts Council Project Grant for the Worcester Public Library Mural Project.
2022 Ignite Fund Award for Where is Worcester? Project, Worcester, MA.
2021 Ignite Fund Award for Who is Worcester? Project, Worcester, MA.
2021 Weiss Summer Research Project Fund through Holy Cross’ JD Power Center, Worcester, MA.
Exhibition Record
2024 Group Exhibition, "Material Needs 2024”, ArtsWorcester, Worcester, MA.
2024 Group Exhibition, “Community Care: Stewarding Your Neighborhood”, LES Ecology Center, New York, NY.
2024 Group Exhibition, “i’ve been meaning to tell you”, FABnyc, New York, NY.
2024 Group Exhibition, “NYC Underground”, Atelier 111 and The Muse Gallery, Bronx, NY.
2023/2024 Solo Show, Assorted Works by Christian Bachez, The Jonathan R. Duchatellier Memorial Gallery, Worcester, MA.
2024 Group Exhibition, “RB1” The Science of Eyes, The Lab Central, Cambridge, MA.
2023 Group Exhibition, The Living Dead Gallery, The Living Artist’s Gallery, Williamsburg, BK.
2023 Group Exhibition, The Last Supper, The Living Artist’s Gallery, Williamsburg, BK.
2023 Group Exhibition, Essence: Works from the Senior Concentration Seminar, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery, College of the Holy Cross.
2023 Group Exhibition, El Salon’s Mi Orgullo Show, Fitchburg State University Gallery.
2023 Group Exhibition, 19th Annual College Show, ArtsWorcester.
2022 Group Exhibition, Creatures of Worcester, Electric Haze Worcester.
2022 Group Exhibition, Bouncy House Time Machine, Jean MacDonough Arts Center.
2022 Group Exhibition, Playing Games, ArtsWorcester.
2022 Group Exhibition, ENDANGERED, Jean MacDonough Arts Center.
2022 Group Exhibition, 18th Annual College Show, ArtsWorcester.
2021 Group Exhibition, El Salon’s TAKE SPACE, Jean MacDonough Arts Center.
2021 Solo Exhibition, Who is Worcester Display, ArtsWorcester’s North Corridor Gallery.
2021 Solo Exhibition, Who/Where is Worcester? Show, Jean MacDonough Arts Center.
Commissions
2024, L’Attitude Gallery/Umass Memorial Health, Worcester, MA Photography Project
2024, Pernet Family Health Services, Worcester, MA Murals x2
2024, Walmart Inc. and NOW Art, Dallas Webb Chapel Mural
2023, Worcester Public Library, Frances Perkins Branch Mural
2023, Office of Sustainability and Dining Services, College of the Holy Cross, Kimball Dining Hall Floor Decal Project.
2023, Pub Rats Poster Design, College of the Holy Cross, Student Government Association.
2023, Holy Cross Office of Student Involvement, PRIDE Office Mural.
2022, El Buen Samaritano Food Pantry, Mural project.
2022, Working 4 Worcester, Mural and student volunteer coordination.
2022, Kommon Sense Co., Sticker Design.
2021, Redemption Rock Brewery Co., Crowler Label Design.
Related Experience
2024, Teaching Artist at NYCHA Family Day Event, LES, NYC.
2024, Teaching Artist at Kintecoying Now Event, East Village, NYC x3
2021-2023, President of the Student Art Society, College of the Holy Cross
2022, Artist Assistant for Shoe Painting at the Nativity School of Worcester.
2022, Muralist Assistant and Collaborator for Ryan Gardell.
2022, Live Muralist for Holy Cross’ Counseling Center’s Fresh Check Day, Worcester, MA.
2022, Gallery Attendant at Artifakt Supply, Worcester, MA.
2022, Muralist Assistant for Kansas City artists ITRA Icons.
2021, Collaborative mural with Grhimm Xavier for POW! WOW! Worcester 2021.
Lectures/Artist Talks
2023, Artist Talk, Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Gala, New York Athletic Club, New York, NY.
2023, Artist Talk on Photography, Reseen: New Scene at the Worcester Historical Museum.
2021-2023, POW! WOW! Worcester Mural Tour Guide.
2023, Psychology Poster Presentations, “Examining Hierarchical Stimulus Perception in the Pigeon’s Lateral Visual Field” and
2023, Psychology Poster Presentations, “Motivation in the Classroom: Integrating Students’ Voices with Psychological Theory to Understand Motivation in High School Math”.
2023, Speaker, Scholarship in Action Roundtable on Community Engaged Research, Academic Conference, College of the Holy Cross.
2023, Research Project Presentation: “Painting walls and planting plots: Environmental justice and the “producers” of nature in Worcester, MA”, Eastern Sociological Society Conference, Baltimore, MD.
2023, Artist Talk, Essence: Works from the Senior Concentration Seminar, Academic Conference, College of the Holy Cross.
2023, Presentation in Latin American art Montserrat Course on the work of Jennessa Burks, College of the Holy Cross.
2022, Research Project Presentation: “Painting walls and planting plots: Environmental justice and the “producers” of nature in Worcester, MA”, Academic Conference, College of the Holy Cross.
2021, ENVS 118 Research Presentations, College of the Holy Cross.
