Christopher Holt

        Christopher Holt was born in Asheville, North Carolina in 1977. He grew up drawing and painting in the small town of Waynesville, North Carolina, where he was surrounded by the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains. In high school the realist sculptor, William Eleazer, became Christopher’s first instructor of drawing, and also gave him a solid foundation in art history. Christopher then followed in his father’s footsteps to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied creative writing and English literature. It was after a summer abroad in London that he reconnected with his desire to become a professional artist. He soon graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in English Literature and Studio Art, receiving the faculty award from the department of art in 2000. After a brief stay in Highlands, North Carolina that saw him return to a painterly interest in his natural surroundings, Christopher traveled throughout Central America and Mexico, immersing himself in both the ecological and social atmosphere of the region. During this journey, he painted murals and was greatly affected by the fresco work of Diego Rivera.

Christopher then decided to return to his native Asheville and set up a studio, where he soon reconnected with his college friend and fellow artist, John Dempsey. Through John’s suggestion, Christopher came to the first day classes at the Fine Arts League of the Carolinas. He has since been a student of the Fine Arts League as well as an integral part of the school’s functioning body. He has worked as an apprentice to Ben Long on his Muse fresco project in Morganton, and also assisted Roger Nelson on his St. Paul’s Episcopal fresco project in Winston-Salem. Christopher worked with Ben Long on his Crossnore fresco project in early 2006 as well as his most recent project for Hospice of Charleston in South Carolina.

Christopher is currently instructing new students at the Fine Arts League while continuing his artistic exploration of the French Broad River in pen and ink as well as working with the figure in watercolor.