The Dark Decadence of Christopher Conn Askew

“Eqvvs Novissimvs” ink, acrylic, gold leaf on paper

We profiled Christopher Conn Askew in HF Vol.16, so we thought it was high time to see what he has been up to lately. With a rabid cult of fans for his razor sharp line work and arcane imagery, the semi-reclusive Askew finally gave in and held his first full solo show at Merry Karnowsky Gallery in Los Angeles, entitled “96 Tears” last November. On display were a series of new paintings that showcase Askew’s distinctive punk bohemian demimonde imagery in his trademark palette of reds, ochres, blacks and powdery blues. His theatrical imagery draws from his years as a tattooist, yet his work continues to beautifully evolve to where his paintings evoke a feeling of a much earlier, old world era. -Kirsten Anderson