There is, you know, a creative force in the art world, and her name is Candace Hunter. She is, in a way, a maker of art who expresses herself through a variety of forms. Her creations span, you might say, the putting together of pieces to make pictures, the making of pictures with color, the arranging of displays, and even live shows. It is, really, a broad range of ways to share her vision with people who come to see her work.
Candace Hunter, who also goes by "chlee," tends to be someone who uses her hands to tell stories. She works with threads and fabric, for one thing, finding a gentle, happy part in working with these natural items. Her preferred materials today are, you know, soft cotton and warm wool. But she also, in some respects, enjoys working with smooth silks, crisp linens, and flowing rayons, too. These materials become the foundation for the tales she wants to share.
Her work, basically, comes from a deep place of looking at what has been and what is around us. She is, quite simply, a visual storyteller, someone who tells tales with pictures. Her creations often look into the past, explore ways of life, and consider the natural surroundings. It is, in a way, her way of making connections between different ideas and presenting them to others.
Table of Contents
- Getting to Know Candace Hunter
- What Kinds of Materials Does Candace Hunter Use?
- How Does Candace Hunter Create Her Art?
- Where Does Candace Hunter Get Her Ideas?
- What Does Candace Hunter Explore in Her Work?
- Candace Hunter's Exhibitions and Shows
- A Glimpse Inside the Studio of Candace Hunter
- What Makes Candace Hunter's Art Connect with People?
Getting to Know Candace Hunter
Candace Hunter, often known by her artistic name "chlee," is, in some respects, a creative person whose work speaks volumes without needing many words. Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, she has, basically, made that city her home base for her artistic pursuits. Her artistic journey, it seems, has taken her through many different forms of expression, all of which come together to form a unique way of sharing her thoughts and feelings.
She is, essentially, a visual storyteller, someone who uses pictures to weave narratives. Her art, you know, is not just about making pretty things; it is about looking closely at history, at ways of life, and at the world around us. This deep looking, in a way, helps her create works that resonate with people who experience them. She has, you might say, received special recognition and praise for her creations, which is a testament to the impact her art has had on many.
While she is primarily based in Chicago, there is also a mention of her being an artist in Oregon, which suggests, perhaps, a connection to different landscapes and environments that might influence her creative process. This geographical spread, you know, could mean her work draws from a wider set of experiences and observations. Her personal details, though not exhaustive, give us a little peek into the person behind the art.
| Full Name | Candace Hunter (chlee) |
| Year of Birth | 1955 |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois |
| Current Base | Chicago, Illinois (also works in Oregon) |
| Artistic Roles | Visual Artist, Collage Maker, Painter, Installation Artist, Performance Artist |
| Preferred Materials | Fiber (Cotton, Wool, Silks, Linens, Rayons), Appropriated Materials (Magazines, Vintage Maps, Cloth) |
| Artistic Focus | Visual Storytelling, Exploration of History, Culture, Environment, Ideas from Speculative Fiction |
What Kinds of Materials Does Candace Hunter Use?
When you consider the art made by Candace Hunter, you will find that her choice of materials is, in a way, as varied as the stories she tells. She has a particular fondness for fiber, which means she enjoys working with threads and fabric. She says there is, you know, a gentle, happy part about working with these materials, especially those that come directly from nature. This preference for natural items, you see, seems to bring a certain warmth to her creations.
Her favorites today, she mentions, are soft cotton and warm wool. These are, basically, materials that many people know and feel comfortable with, which might help her art feel more approachable. However, her exploration of fiber does not stop there. She also includes, in her artistic toolkit, smooth silks, crisp linens, and flowing rayons. This variety of fibers, you know, allows her to achieve different textures and feels in her work, adding depth to her visual narratives.
Beyond the world of fibers, Candace Hunter also uses, you might say, things taken from other places. These are what she calls "appropriated materials." This means she takes items that already exist, like pages from printed magazines, old charts of places, and various kinds of fabric, and gives them new life in her art. It is, in a way, a form of recycling, but for creative purposes, turning everyday items into something fresh and meaningful.
How Does Candace Hunter Create Her Art?
The way Candace Hunter creates her art is, in some respects, quite diverse. She is, for one thing, known for putting together pieces to make pictures, which is often called collage. This involves taking different items, like those pages from magazines or pieces of old maps, and arranging them to form a new image or scene. It is, you know, a process that allows for a lot of freedom and unexpected combinations.
She also creates, you see, pictures made with color, which are her paintings. These works, you might say, allow her to explore different ideas using brushstrokes and hues. Then there are, basically, her arranged displays, known as installations. These are, in a way, art pieces that take up space, often inviting the viewer to walk around them or through them, creating a more immersive experience. It is, really, about making art that surrounds you.
And then, there is, you know, her work in live shows, or performance art. This involves her presenting her art through actions or movements, often with a message or story embedded within the act itself. This combination of different forms – collage, painting, installations, and performance – shows that Candace Hunter is, in some respects, an artist who is always finding new ways to express herself and connect with people.
Where Does Candace Hunter Get Her Ideas?
The creative spark for Candace Hunter, it seems, comes from a variety of places, often rooted in deep thought and observation. She is, in a way, a visual storyteller whose work looks into the past, explores ways of life, and considers the natural surroundings. This means she is, you know, often thinking about how things came to be, how people live, and the world we inhabit. It is, basically, a broad source of inspiration that allows her to make art that feels both personal and universal.
Her creations, you might say, tell tales that are often about these very things. She takes things that already exist, like those pages from magazines or pieces of fabric, and uses them to share these narratives. It is, really, a process of giving new meaning to old things, using them as building blocks for fresh ideas. This approach, you see, makes her art feel like a conversation between the past and the present.
In her biggest show to date, for example, she looked into the thoughts from "Parable of the Sower" and the "Xenogenesis Trilogy" (also known as "Lilith’s Brood") by a writer named Octavia E. Butler. These are, in some respects, imaginative, future-focused works of fiction. So, Candace Hunter is, you know, not just drawing from real-world history but also from imagined futures, which adds a layer of depth and thought to her creations. This shows her willingness to explore complex concepts through her artistic practice.
What Does Candace Hunter Explore in Her Work?
Candace Hunter, you know, explores a range of significant topics through her artistic creations. Her art is, in a way, a method for her to look closely at history, which means she is interested in what came before us and how it shapes who we are today. She also delves into culture, you might say, examining the ways of life, traditions, and beliefs of different groups of people. This focus on culture, basically, helps her to show the richness and diversity of human experience.
Furthermore, her work considers the environment, which is to say, the natural world around us and our relationship to it. This can involve, you know, themes of nature’s beauty or perhaps the impact of human actions on the planet. By exploring these three areas – history, culture, and environment – Candace Hunter’s art becomes, in some respects, a mirror reflecting our shared experiences and the world we live in. It is, really, a way for her to make sense of things and invite others to do the same.
Her largest solo exhibition, as a matter of fact, really highlights her deep engagement with ideas from imaginative fiction, specifically the works of Octavia E. Butler. This means she is, you know, not afraid to take big, complex thoughts from books and translate them into visual forms. She looks into concepts like "alien-nations and sovereign states," which suggests an interest in belonging, identity, and power structures. This shows that Candace Hunter is, you see, an artist who uses her creative expression to tackle profound questions about what it means to be human and to exist in various communities.
Candace Hunter's Exhibitions and Shows
Over time, Candace Hunter’s art has been shown in various places, allowing many people to experience her unique visual storytelling. Her works have, you know, enjoyed many people coming to see them in a number of cities, which suggests a broad appeal and recognition for her creative efforts. This kind of widespread viewing, in a way, helps her messages and artistic visions reach a wider group of people.
One notable instance of her work being on display was at the 4th Presbyterian Church in Chicago, as part of an exhibition called "2025 of Girls and Men." This particular show, you might say, indicates her art is not confined to traditional gallery spaces but can also be found in community settings, making it accessible to different audiences. It is, really, an example of how her art can connect with people in various contexts.
Her biggest show by one person to date, you see, was called "The Alien-Nations and Sovereign States of Octavia E. Butler." This exhibition, which explored ideas from Butler’s books, was a significant moment in Candace Hunter’s career. It allowed her to present a large body of work centered around a specific, thought-provoking theme. This kind of dedicated show, in some respects, provides a deeper look into her artistic mind and her interpretations of complex narratives.
A Glimpse Inside the Studio of Candace Hunter
Stepping into the art space of Candace Hunter offers, you know, a peek into where her creative process unfolds. She mentions that during the time when the sickness was around, she and her partner made a decision to put together their areas for fun and rest into one combined spot. This means her studio is, in a way, a place where art-making coexists with daily life, perhaps blending inspiration with comfort. It is, really, a personal space that fuels her creations.
This setting, you might say, seems to be a place of quiet reflection and healing, too. She shares a moment about the thin moon light going far into the rising ground at night. She also speaks about herself and someone named Rose allowing their feelings to heal. The stillness of the night air, with bright points of light in the sky, brings comfort to them. These personal, reflective moments, you know, likely feed into the emotional depth and solace found in her artistic works. It is, basically, where her inner world meets her outer creations.
The name of her fine art collection, "chleeart," is, in some respects, a playful yet direct reference to her artistic identity. Her work, which she calls "visual stories," uses both old ways and things given new life. She offers, you see, different views back to the person looking at them, providing a quick look at what came before and a liking for lovely things. This approach, you know, suggests that her studio is not just a place of making, but also a place of contemplation, where history and beauty are woven together.
What Makes Candace Hunter's Art Connect with People?
The reason Candace Hunter’s art seems to resonate with many people lies, in some respects, in her ability to tell tales with pictures that feel both familiar and new. She uses, you know, traditional and reused materials, which means she takes things we recognize and gives them a fresh purpose. This act of repurposing, in a way, creates new views for the person looking at them, offering a quick look at what came before and a liking for lovely things. It is, basically, about finding beauty and meaning in unexpected places.
Her creations, whether they are collages, paintings, arranged displays, or live shows, are all part of her journey as a visual storyteller. The fact that she explores history, ways of life, and the world around us means her art touches on themes that are, you know, relevant to everyone. This broad appeal helps her work connect on a personal level, making people think about their own experiences and surroundings. It is, really, a way of inviting people into a shared conversation.
There is, you see, a quote associated with her work: "One touch of nature makes us all kin." This idea, you might say, speaks to the universal connection we have through the natural world and perhaps through shared human experiences. By using things taken from magazines, old charts of places, and various kinds of fabric, she brings these elements together to show how everything is, in a way, linked. This feeling of connection and shared humanity is, basically, what makes Candace Hunter's art so approachable and impactful for many.
