About Christopher Rabb
Born and raised in Texas, Christopher Rabb spent his early years doing what many 90s kids did best: crushing video game levels, flipping through comic books, and watching way too much MTV. (Yes, back when it actually played music videos.) These pop culture staples didn't just entertain him—they laid the foundation for the colorful, layered world he builds in his artwork today.
Christopher is a two-dimensional artist at heart, though his creativity definitely doesn't stay in one lane. He draws inspiration from advertising, cartoons, comic books, graphic novels, movies—you name it. If it's bold, weird, or nostalgic, it probably shows up somewhere in his work. Over the years, his artistic journey has led him through painting, collage, and digital abstraction, each offering new ways to remix and reimagine familiar imagery.
He earned his BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of North Texas in 2005. Not one to stop at a single degree, he powered up with an MA in Art in 2008 and an MFA in Art in 2010—both from the University of Dallas.
Christopher's work has been exhibited and collected across the U.S., from the sunny beaches of Florida to the snowy peaks of Alaska, and plenty of places in between, including California, New Mexico, New York, and of course, his home state of Texas.
Christopher is currently creating and educating in Killeen, Texas.
Artist Statement
My work focuses on play, experimentation, and storytelling through Pop Art Abstraction. At its heart, I ask how the symbols and language of mass culture shape our shared memories and personal identities. I’m drawn to the contrast between bright, lively surfaces and deeper meanings, as well as to how nostalgia and irony shape our perception of everyday images. I welcome surprise and spontaneity in every layer, which is packed with pop culture references and icons. Bold, eye-catching text runs across my pieces like ads, inviting viewers to look closer. By abstracting familiar objects and images, I create a playful conversation where nostalgia, irony, and curiosity come together.
Painting allows me to test new processes, such as layering acrylic paints and experimenting with mixed media, including collage and spray paint, while deepening my affinity with the emotional and cultural depth in daily life. By incorporating a variety of materials and application techniques, such as stenciling, texturing, and bold, graphic brushwork, I engage with the unpredictable vocabulary of color, form, and visual storytelling. The influence of artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, particularly their collaborative works, is evident in my use of bold color, the layering of pop-culture imagery, and an energetic composition. Similarly, the playful and socially aware practices of John Rosenquist, Banksy, and Keith Haring inform my approach to using recognizable icons and text to provoke both joy and reflection. While I draw from these influences, I strive to move beyond replication by incorporating personal memories, contemporary references, and an emphasis on the emotional nuances behind familiar images. My work builds on their legacy through a more intuitive process in which spontaneity and improvisation guide the narrative, allowing my own perspective to come forward. Through this approach, I aim to create artwork that instills joy, inspires reflection, and evokes a renewed sense of awe in the viewer.