Whether working abstractly or with the figure, Gwaltney’s process is one of construction and then deconstructing leading to multi-layered meanings. For him, each painting poses an argument and he finds the evidence that leads to the end just as pivotal as the completed work. He allows for the underlying sketches and the decision process to come through. “In the end,” he says, “A painting should be a testament to time well spent.”

Chris Gwaltney was born in Van Nuys, CA. Deciding to pursue a professional career in art he enrolled at the University California State Fullerton where he received his Bachelors of Art in 1984 and consecutively was awarded his Master of Fine Arts in 1986 and teaching credentials in 1987. While preparing for his graduate show, he was spotted by gallerist, Diane Nelson who that same year gave him his first solo exhibition. Over the next 23 years Gwaltney enjoyed continuous representation by galleries with yearly exhibitions in both Southern and Northern California and collectors throughout the country.

Gwaltney's influences hail strongly from the San Francisco figurative group and include both sculptors and painters such as Nathan Oliveira, Manuel Neri, Stephen de Staebler, Joan Brown and Richard Diebenkorn. In terms of mark-making, he looks to Jean Michel Basquiat, Cy Twombly, Willem de Kooning and Joan Mitchell.