Biography

Chris Dagradi was born in Brooklyn New York, U.S.A. August 21 1954. Dagradi studied at the Cooper Union for the advancement of Science and Art in New York City where he earned a B.F.A. in 1976.

Since 1978 Delft has been his home. In the Netherlands, Dagradi continued his studies at the Art Academy of Rotterdam and later Ateliers 63 in Haarlem .

In 1984 Dagradi studied with Andy Weber, a western painter of Tibetan thangkas in the Menri tradition. He also to studied with Gega Lama ( 1931-1996) a Tibetan master painter in the Gadri tradition. A thangka is a traditional roll painting done according to strict rules and intended to transmit the essence of the Buddhist doctrine.

During many years of work experience as a painter of traditional Delft blue and polychrome earthenware at ‘De Delftse Pauw’ and later in the production process at ‘De Porceleyne Fles’, Royal Delft factory In Delft, Dagradi discovered new possibilities of utilizing clay in his autonomous work. With traditional working methods as a basis, he began experimenting and improvising.
He made use of diverse decoration techniques such as under glaze, on-glaze, transfers and photo transfers.
Inspired by travels in Italy , the birthplace of his grandparents , Dagradi began to study Roman and Byzantine mosaics. He now uses glass, stone and ceramic shards in his work and incorporate them into monumental sculptures.
His ceramic work varies in form and size from plates, individual tiles, handmade relief tiles, to tile tableaus and public art sculptures.
He sees his drawings as the essence of his oeuvre and calligraphic play of line as a metaphor for the endlessness of life. Observation and chance are at the root of his visual language.

Dagradis paintings and ceramics are included in many private and public collections including the Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft and The Dutch Tile Museum, Otterlo. In the Netherlands, public artworks are to be seen in Delft, The Hague and Amsterdam.

Studies

• 2011
  Arte del Masaico Ravenna, Italy, Certified
  
  
• 2009
  BIK Beroepskunstenaars in de Klas (Artists in the Classroom), Certified
  
  
• 2000-01
  Vakkennis Keramische Industrie ( VKI)
  (Professional Knowledge Ceramic Industries)
  
  
• 1997-98
  Praktijkopleiding Fijn Keramiek (POF)
  (Practical Studies Ceramic Industries)
  
  
• 1979-81
  Ateliers 63, Haarlem/Amsterdam
  
  
• 1978-79
  Art School Rotterdam
  
  
• 1974-79
  The Cooper Union, New York City, U.S.A.
  
  

Solo

• 2019
  Galerie Wijnstraat, Dordrecht
  
  
• 2016
  Galerie Wijnstraat, Dordrecht: ‘Questo Paradiso’
  
  
• 2016
  Het Nederlands Tegelmuseum Otterloo
  
  
• 2013
  Delftse meesters van nu, Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft
  
  
• 2009
  Galerie 59, Amsterdam
  
  
• 2006
  DOK Kunstcentrum, Delft
  
  
2005
Galerie Meij en Meij, Delft


• 2002
  Nederlandse Tegelmuseum
  
  
• 1997
  Galerie Dijkzicht, Rotterdam
  
  
• 1997
  Galerie Lutz, Delft
  
  
• 1992
  Galerie Kaai, IJmuiden
  
  
• 1992
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft
  
  
• 1990
  Galerie Basket, Middelburg
  
  
• 1987
  Galerie De Fiets, Delft
  
  
• 1987
  Galerie Den Haag
  
  
• 1982
  De Volle Maan, Delft
  
  

Group shows

• 2014
  Galerie Wijnstraat, Dordrecht
  
  
• 2014
  Inzicht,Delftse Meesters van Nu, Prinsenhof Museum, Delft
  
  
• 2013
  The Blue Revolution, Djingezhen porcelain Museum, Jingdezhen, China
  
  
• 2012
  The Blue revolution Prinsenhof Museum , Delft, The Netherlands
  
  
• 2012
  Kunsten op straat, International Street Theater Festival Sandpaintings in Almelo, Zwolle and Hardenberg, The Netherlands
  
  
• 2012
  Sanbao Ceramic Art Museum , Jingdezhen, China
  
  
• 2012
  Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Fair, Jingdezhen, China
  
  
• 2012
  Upstairs met Erik van Katwijk en Aart Houtman Kadmium , Delft
  
  
• 2012
  Boeddha’s in Beeld, Maitreya Instituut, Amsterdam
  
  
• 2011
  Gebakken Beelden, Ceramics by seven artists from Delft DOK Delft
  
  
• 2010
  15e Delftse Atelieroute
  
  
• 2009
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, '4 Delft' 14de Delftse Atelierroute, Delft
  
  
• 2008
  Pulchri Studio, Den Haag
  
  
• 2007
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, Delft ‘ Contour.
  Continuïteit’ Heden en Verleden met 111Hedendaagse Nederlandse kunstenaars in drie Delftse musea
  
  
• 2004
  Artotheek, Den Haag ‘De Zwarte Doos van Galerie Den Haag’
  
  
• 2003
  Galerie D.V.O, Brussel, België
  
  
• 2000
  Galerie Phoebus, Rotterdam
  
  
• 1999
  Galerie De Sigarenfabriek ‘Keramiek Millenium’ Delft
  
  
• 1996
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof,‘In Gesprek met Vermeer’, Delft
  
  
• 1995
  Galerie Lutz, Delft
  
  
• 1995
  Grote Kerk, ‘Art and Image’ Den Haag
  
  
• 1995
  Manifestatie ‘Reizen’ 26 kunstenaars op 20 locations, Delft
  
  
• 1995
  Galerie Art Fundum, Enschede
  
  
• 1993
  Galerie Maurits van der Laar, Den Haag
  
  
• 1993
  Galerie Lutz, Delft
  
  
• 1993
  Galerie Phoebus, Rotterdam
  
  
• 1991
  Artotheek, Vlaardingen
  
  
• 1989
  Galerie Den Haag
  
  
• 1989
  Rijksmuseum Twente, ‘Rijksaankopen’ Enschede
  
  
• 1988
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, '‘Kleine Schilderijen’ Delft
  
  
• 1988
  Nieuwe Muziek Centrum, Middelburg
  
  
• 1987
  Stedelijk Museum Het Prinsenhof, ‘Delftse Signalement’, Delft
  
  
• 1985
  H.C.A.K. Haags Centrum voor Actuele Kunst
  
  
• 1984
  Galerie Den Haag
  
  
• 1978
  City Without Walls, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.
  
  

Work experience

• 2014 - present
  Ceramic painter, Montagne Aardewerkfabriek Gouderak
  
  
• 2012-2014
  Production worker, Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles ,Royal Delft
  
  
• 2012
  Artist in residence Sanbao Ceramic Art Instituut, Jingdezhen China
  
  
• 2006-2014
  Art Council, Community of Velsen, the Netherlands
  
  
• 2006-present
  Mosaic instructor, The VAK center for the arts, Delft, the Netherlands
  
  
• 2005-present
  Member of Art Commission, City of Velsen, the Netherlands
  
  
• 2000-2001
  Ceramic painting techniques, SBB, Gouda, the Netherlands
  
  
• 1997-2006
  Head of Tile department, Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles ,Royal Delft
  
  
• 1991-1992
  Translator, Artscript, Amsterdam
  
  
• 1990-1991
  Ceramic painter/designer, Firebird Tiles, Berkley Heights, N.J., U.S.A.
  
  
• 1981-1990
  Ceramic painter, De Delftse Pauw, Delft, The Netherlands