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Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

American, b. 1954

Christopher Klein was a former illustrator for National Geographic Magazine. Klein was born in 1954, Washington DC. Klein spent 26 years at National Geographic Magazine. His career at National Geographic brought him around the world. He lived with people from Egypt to South America, studied history and artifacts of ancient times and delved into the intricacies of creatures like tarantulas and horseshoe crabs. His research transformed into illustrations filling the pages of National Geographic Magazine. In retirement, he is back to his surrealistic roots combining his love of surrealism with the breadth of his life experience. “Surrealism is a way for me to create my own world,” says Klein. “Whether it be an archeological recreation, deep sea representation, or a futuristic scene, my use of realistic juxtapositions proved to be my key to scientific art with the National Geographic Society. My ability to render in high detail and a vivid imagination are the prerequisites for creating accurate paintings of historic people, the places they lived and worshipped, as well as the inner workings of both animals and machines. After 26 years of scientific art, my work is now going full circle back to my fine art roots in surrealism, now reflecting realistic images in unnatural settings or unnatural images in even more bizarre environments.”

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Artist: Christopher Klein
The Sound of the Changing Season - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic
The Sound of the Changing Season - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic

Christopher KleinThe Sound of the Changing Season - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic, 2022

$10,500

The Sound of the Changing Season - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic

By Christopher Klein

Located in Chicago, IL

A violinist, playing a melancholy tune, helps conjure up the change of season from fall to winter on Halloween, as represented by the black cat. The cat is holding the Tempest in the Teapot kettle. The raven, who is bursting forth from the steam of this tempest, represents the cold, dark and harsh winter to come. Juxtaposing and altering unrelated natural objects with the machinations of man to create a scene of an impossible surreal world, the viewer enters the mind of artist Christopher Klein...

Category

2010s Surrealist Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

MusCATteer - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, Framed
MusCATteer - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, Framed

Christopher KleinMusCATteer - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, Framed, circa 2012

$12,000

MusCATteer - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, Framed

By Christopher Klein

Located in Chicago, IL

Juxtaposing and altering unrelated natural objects with the machinations of man to create a scene of an impossible surreal world, the viewer enters the mind of artist Christopher Klein...

Category

2010s Surrealist Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

Materials

Linen, Oil

Desert Desert - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting
Desert Desert - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting

Christopher KleinDesert Desert - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting, 2024

$14,000

Desert Desert - Surreal Rural Scene, Hyper-realistic Original Oil Painting

By Christopher Klein

Located in Chicago, IL

As a Mexican musician sings and plays the guitar dressed for the day of the dead. He is being unknowingly stalked by a mythical beast. Little does he know that he is singing about ...

Category

2010s Surrealist Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Heli Hatchlings, Surreal Oil Painting - Giant Chameleons Crab Apples Helicopter
Heli Hatchlings, Surreal Oil Painting - Giant Chameleons Crab Apples Helicopter

Christopher KleinHeli Hatchlings, Surreal Oil Painting - Giant Chameleons Crab Apples Helicopter, circa 2012

$6,800

Heli Hatchlings, Surreal Oil Painting - Giant Chameleons Crab Apples Helicopter

By Christopher Klein

Located in Chicago, IL

The smiling figures in the helicopter, hatching from a frozen crab-apple, have false hopes that they are on a fun adventure, unaware of the imminent danger- they are about the chameleon’s prey. Fortune can turn on a dime. Such is the subject of Christopher Klein...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Surrealist Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

The Duet -Original Oil Surreal Painting of Man with Tree Growing Out of His Head
The Duet -Original Oil Surreal Painting of Man with Tree Growing Out of His Head

Christopher KleinThe Duet -Original Oil Surreal Painting of Man with Tree Growing Out of His Head, circa 2008

$6,500

The Duet -Original Oil Surreal Painting of Man with Tree Growing Out of His Head

By Christopher Klein

Located in Chicago, IL

The Mythical tree of life extrudes from the body of a Christian tortured by the thought that pagan religions, represented by the double-headed snake may hold some truth. The tree is playing Brahms's Lullaby in an attempt to calm the subject's troubled mind during his epiphany - discovering the other religion is his. Christopher A. Klein The Duet oil on panel 13.50h x 11.50w in 34.29h x 29.21w cm CK0001 Christopher A. Klein b. 1954, Washington DC Christopher Klein...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

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Cat as Catch Can During the Renaissance, the popular sport of “catry” (similar to the sport of falconry) was so successful that it caused the extinction of the Dwarf Bat-Eared Flying...

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Temptation of St. Anthony, Surrealist Oil Painting with Female, Bat and Saint

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H 16 in W 12 in

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Located in Chicago, IL

Temptation of Saint Anthony The ruined cathedral in the background symbolizes the degradation of the world, including religion. A red-horned daemon (the bat) conspires with a female...

Category

2010s Surrealist Christopher Klein Figurative Paintings

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The perfectly round pearl is considered something rare, fine, and valuable and is prized as a precious gemstone the world over. Created over long periods of time in the soft folds o...

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Just as amber entombs living things giving us a picture of the past, this post-apocalyptic scene depicts the next wave or era of life. Bats, with their advanced senses, have risen t...

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Located in Chicago, IL

Christopher A. Klein Statement After 26 years at the National Geographic Magazine, I am back to my surrealistic roots. However, I will maintain parallel tracks: 1) surreal fine art...

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Christopher Klein figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Christopher Klein figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Christopher Klein in oil paint, paint, panel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Christopher Klein figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 12 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Mary Carroll, Valton Tyler, and Gian Berto Vanni. Christopher Klein figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,500 and tops out at $12,000, while the average work can sell for $8,800.

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