FORT WORKS ART is pleased to announce artist Crystal Wagner’s second solo exhibition
with the gallery: Sublime. Wagner is a full-time interdisciplinary artist whose work builds worlds
by incorporating textural materials and the natural movement of our bodies through temporary
landscapes. Wagner will be creating a large-scale, site-specific installation for the gallery
during her residency, sponsored by Gallery of Dreams. The exhibition opens on Saturday, July 9,
2022, with a reception from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and will be on display until Saturday, October 15,
2022.
Wagner describes her process as “intuitive and organic”. She walks into a building and simply
responds to the architecture and environment that surrounds her. Her utilization of the unique
characteristics of each individual area that she works within, guides her through the creation of
these new whimsical worlds. These organic structures move through the space with an artificial
vibrancy reminiscent of flowers and tropical settings; “a waterfall of color” as described by Pat
Hazell in a recent podcast interview with Wagner.
During this interview, Wagner elaborates on her approach stating “Our relationship with the natural
world has changed so dramatically that we don’t even understand it anymore. We are losing a sense
of this relationship.…because of our technologically driven sense of focus.”. These
monumental-scale works reactivate the relationship between our bodies and the natural environment,
waking our senses up upon our entrance into this immersive exhibition. This leaves the viewer
experiencing grand feelings, similar to the feeling one might get standing next to a giant sequoia
tree, as the artist has referenced.
Wagner’s design work is very reminiscent of the Art Deco/Art Nouveau genre, and we can clearly
see her influence by Gaudí. These natural movements exist architecturally on the surface. Similar
to Gaudí, Wagner comes from a family of craftsmen, where the architectural form is another way of
seeing the world, a vision seen in all of her works.
In announcing Sublime, Fort Works Art owner & curator Lauren Saba stated, “Wagner’s
understanding of material and color is difficult to match, and her unique way of implementing those
visions on large-scale works is what sets her apart as an artist”.
Wagner uses a hybrid approach with the use of both organic and manufactured materials. She uses
materials such as chicken wire for the substrate, coupled with kite paper or picnic table covers
for the finish out. These materials have traveled all over the world. They have been reused and
recycled in various works across the globe. Wagner’s work is an outward expression of herself –
joyful, curious, whimsical, and musical.
Gallery of Dreams is excited to bring this installation to life by partnering with local artists in
the community. The finished product will be an immersive artistic ecosystem in the heart of Fort
Worth’s Cultural District. People of all ages are encouraged to come in and interact with the
artwork, as that interaction transforms the art yet again. Wagner’s work is ephemeral, existing
only in a fleeting life cycle, and it will be a special gem for our city to experience in every
way, and then it will be gone. Don’t miss it!
This will be a ticketed event., please find tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sublime-crystal-wagner-tickets-369158833007?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
About the artist
Crystal Wagner received her MFA from the University of Tennessee in 2008, her BFA from the Atlanta
College of Art in 2004, and her AFA from Keystone College in 2002. After teaching as a college art
professor for five years, Crystal left academia to focus exclusively on her studio practice.
Wagner’s artwork has been exhibited extensively in the U.S and abroad. Notable commissions include
a large-scale installation for the internationally recognized band The Flaming Lips, a large shadow
box for GNU - a snowboard company out of Portland, OR, and a large-scale installation piece for
NIKE, presented in the Shrine Auditorium for The KOBE X Blackout Experience, and two installations
for Viacom, one of which is a 117 ft piece at their headquarters in Times Square. It was featured
by the New York Times and was broadcast on national television on VH1's Top 20 Countdown, The
United States Embassy. Wagner has also completed a large-scale installation for both Warner
Brothers, and the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, CA.
Please visit our website for details or email us at
info@fortworksart.com with questions
About FORT WORKS ART
Fort Works Art is committed to bringing life, vitality, and energy to the art scene in Fort
Worth, TX. They are a resource for both seasoned collectors and the everyday individual. Existing
somewhere between a gallery, a cultural center, and a museum, Fort
Works Art strives to continually evolve into its own entity, free from the traditional labels
of the art world. They exist to support the arts, to give back to the community, and to inspire
youth.
Fort Works Art
2100 Montgomery Street
Fort Worth, Texas, 76107
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 5 pm;
