Black and White: Art and Philosophy

“To me, black and white are not merely colors of visual art, they are also philosophers: a dialogue between our being and the unseen power.” – American artist Christopher Mudgett

Adventure begins with a black and white painting, both online and in the artist Christopher Mudgett’s (b.1982) profile photo. In the monochromatic photograph, sunlight delicately reflects in his eye, revealing the spark of an artistic journey that invites me to explore his vision and story. On a recent West Coast adventure, I bravely visited his studio in person – a step into the unknown, into the depths of his creative world. The artist is confident and thoughtful in person, with a quiet delicacy that contrasts his cool online persona. 

Art is in the air. We sat in front of the easel, surrounded by monochromatic artworks, the bird, and the warm sunlight of Los Angeles, opening a profound conversation. “You are self-taught on your visual art journey?” I posed this question with endless curiosity. Mudgett slowly unfolded his journey by layers, each revealing a hidden truth – the path chose him.  Art always runs through his veins and flows through every aspect of his life: he has played and composed music since a young age, with imaginative visions continually alive in his mind. After a 15 year journey in music, a call from the world of visual art began to stir within him. In 2011, he bravely answered that call, willingly taking the risk and setting out on a new path driven by the need for a more visceral and tactile form of self-expression, where everything felt natural. I noticed the deep passion in his eyes as he spoke, moving forward one step at a time and often dedicating as many as 16 hours a day to creation in the studio. Today, his artworks are recognized across the globe, as he continues to push the boundaries of his creative exploration. 

At first glance, many audiences, including myself, thought Mudgett’s artworks must have been influenced by Cubist Pablo Picasso, particularly in the way he creates a sense of three-dimensionality on a flat surface. This initial visual similarity prompted me to a deeper exploration of his artistic influences, elevating our conversation. “I like and respect many renowned artists, such as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and more, also appreciate emerging artists, my artistic influences accumulate along a continuous lineage, blending inspirations from past and present to nurture and fuel my creative work,” he says, explaining the influence behind the scenes. His deep respect for art and artists inspires me. In the studio, I gazed at his paintings once more and found subtle differences that reveal a new perspective I hadn’t seen before. His artworks never fail to surprise me. Good art never looks the same twice – open your eyes!  

Mudgett lives through his art and draws profound inspiration from life itself: the people he interacts with daily, the objects he connects to, or those that randomly surface in his mind, and the core beliefs and ideas that resonate within his soul – all vividly brought to life on canvas. He embraces spontaneity and follows his instincts throughout the creative process, letting the art speak for itself. At the moment, we declared, “This is adventure!” as our applause echoed with shared excitement. He is clearly an adventurer as heart as well. 

His large monochromatic painting titled “Woman at the Toilet” immediately drew my attention. As he shared the inspiration behind it, layers of thought, emotion and intention gradually unfolded, revealing the depth woven into the work. During the COVID pandemic, when daily life came to a standstill and even toilet paper became a rare commodity, that strange and disorienting chapter of collective experience inspired this work. The painting is silent, yet it reflects on our shared vulnerability and remarkable capacity to endure. 

One of the most enchanting scenes I encountered: a bird walking freely through the studio. He lives alongside it – a quiet companion in a space where art is created. It reflects a new way of living, one that seeks to co-exist harmoniously with good evil, nature and art, human and animals, all under one roof. It is a testament to balance and presence. 

He continued to share another oil painting of a bird figure and told me the story, that one day he followed his instinct and working on bird creation on the canvas, the strangest thing was after few days of creation, this bird flew into his studio, landing on paintings, easels and offered a high enough perch, then became a part of his life and inspiration. The bird appearance matched to his creation in his mind almost at the exact moment. Everything feels surreal, clearly more than coincidence, almost prophetic and deeply cohesive. I was fascinated by it and said, “Wow! Nature finds you”. 

Black and White is artist Mudgett’s distinctive artistic language, illuminating that his monochromatic palette is more than an aesthetic choice. He continued, carrying a spark of energy, “I could find many colors, most of which represent different feelings and thoughts, but black and white speak most intimately to my inner self. It is deeper than what you see, symbolizing the fundamental dualities of human existence: light and shadow, good and evil, love and hate, introvert and extrovert, inside and outside”. I added, “strong and vulnerable?”  He smiled. We know these two sides inherent in everything we constantly experience. It made me wonder whether we truly have the courage to confront our deepest sides. Great art evokes our emotions and inspires deep reflection on the profound depths of our being, transcending mere decoration and superficiality, artist Mudgett fulfills this perfectly. 

Did you know? Although he is a self-taught artist, the geometric precision and structural balance in his paintings and drawings are inherited from his father, who is an architect. His works showcase a keen sense of composition and symmetry, subtly shaped by his family’s influence. 

We continued exchanging perspectives on gallery representation, just like old friends. He chose to leave his gallery to take full control over his artistic output and how his work is presented. Traditional galleries focus on driving art sales and often overlook the artist’s vision. For him, maintaining his studio and truly enjoying and resonating art are most important; having people who collect his work value it for its meaning rather than for money matters more. Now, his artwork is exclusively available through his gallery and studio. I admire his ambition and dedication to preserving the integrity of his creative process. He also has a clear vision for continued growth, planning to hold exhibitions in museums in future. Our conversation ponders me to reconsider whether the traditional gallery model genuinely fits today’s art market.

He knows how to collect and the specialty care of art. He believes, seeing and collecting art is a slow-burning process, one should engage with artworks over the years, as it is a test of time – after couple years, the piece should still hold its magical quality and continue to evoke the deepest parts of our souls. He is a true artist and a hidden gem. 

For the artist, black and white serve as a powerful artistic language, allowing him to convey both his inner world and the outer surroundings. Through his monochrome lens, he embarks on a profound exploration of the intersection of art and philosophy, using his creations as a form of philosophy to ponder the deeper questions of existence and the human experience. He transmits his unique gift to us, inviting us into a thoughtful dialogue with both the visible and invisible dimensions of life.  

For both the audience and collectors, these artworks serve as bridge – not only connecting us to the artist’s unique vision but also reflecting aspects of ourselves we may not always recognize. They replenish our souls, offering moments of insight and deep emotional resonance. This powerful bond carries profound value, transcending the physical form to touch the essence of our shared humanity. Great art not only inspires us but also elevates the environment around us.

Now, when I look back at the light in his eyes in that monochromatic profile photo again, I see his inner world more clearly. I would say, it is not just an artistic adventure, but a profound collision of souls through art.

His artistic journey continues. 

Notes: If you’d like to learn more about the artist Christopher Mudgett and his works, please visit his website: www.mudgett.co, or follow his Instagram:@ChristopherMudgett. Feel free to send me a private message as well. Discover the bold and mesmerizing art of Christopher Mudgett for your collection – may the art connect us !