CHRISTA BLACKWOOD

Christa Blackwood is a photo, text and installation artist working with themes related to identity, history, and popular culture. Raised in Oklahoma City and New Orleans, Blackwood now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

Her visual voice was developed while a student at New York University, when she began producing street art such as the poster, Butcherknives (1991), a work that addressed issues of sexual violence. A chilling juxtaposition of billboard-like close-ups and text from poet, Michelle Kotler, Butcherknives, was plastered all over the streets of lower New York City on the evening of the William Kennedy Smith verdict was announced. The posters timely and provocative appearance resulted in heightened critical attention for Blackwood, including an invitation to join The Woman’s Action Coalition (WAC) from renowned artisits and scholars, Kiki Smith and Lucy Lippard.

She received a Master of Arts from New York University and Bachelor’s degree in Classics and Filmaking from The University of Oklahoma and has exhibited her work since the early 1990’s, most notably at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, The Ogden Museum, The Houston Center for Photography, The Institute of Fine Arts NYU, San Francisco City Hall and the Contemporary Austin. Her work has been featured in many publications, including The New York Times, The Chicago Sun Times, The Village Voice, Lenscratch and Art Desk Magazine.

Blackwood also founded and managed The Children’s Photographic Collective, offering free/low cost photo and literacy workshops to elementary through high school students in New York City and Austin, Texas from 1995-2007.