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

circa 2012

About the Item

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's wildly detailed surreal painting entitled "Heli Hatchlings". Christopher A. Klein Helli Hatchlings oil on panel 16h x 12w in 40.64h x 30.48w cm CK0005 Christopher A. Klein b. 1954, Washington DC Christopher Klein spent 26 years at National Geographic Magazine. His career at National Geographic brought him around the world. He lived with peoples 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”.
  • Creator:
    Christopher Klein (1954, American)
  • Creation Year:
    circa 2012
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)Width: 12 in (30.48 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: CK0051stDibs: LU55431828103
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