Chris Corales (1969-2018)

It is with tremendous sadness that we share the news of the death of Chris Corales, an artist and friend who had been a part of our gallery since its early days. Chris grew up in the Bay Area and was an early member of what was to become the Mission School. His great sense of humor and personal warmth embodied his strong sense of community. He leaves behind many friends in the San Francisco area and beyond.

Chris created collages, abstract constructions in a signature style that incorporated vintage found material such as antique paper, cardboard, and old book-binding materials. He perceived these works as manufactured containers that became silent collaborators in his exploration of color and form, imbued with the quality of poetic meditations on time and space.

Chris leaves behind his wife, Adelina Vlas, whom he met in 2011 while living in Philadelphia. He also leaves behind a son, Niko, who was born in 2015. The couple had recently been living in Toronto, where Adelina, formerly a curator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, took on a new curatorial position at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all of Chris’s family and friends. A memorial will take place in Philadelphia in June, and in San Francisco on Sunday, June 17 at Southern Exposure. To contribute to Chris’s family a fund has been set up for present and future expenses. Please visit: www.gofundme.com/chris-corales