Chris LaPorte
About
Chris LaPorte is an American figurative artist known for monumental graphite drawings that transform collective human experience into works of extraordinary scale, density, and emotional presence. Working primarily in large-scale drawing, LaPorte’s practice explores civic life, historical memory, ceremony, and the complexity of human gathering through sustained observational labor and exacting draftsmanship.
Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, LaPorte has built a career around expanding the possibilities of drawing as a public and institutional medium. His work repositions graphite, traditionally associated with intimacy and preliminary study, as a vehicle for monumentality, collective memory, and architectural presence.
LaPorte’s work has been exhibited nationally and regionally, including solo exhibitions at Reynolds Gallery at Texas A&M University, Batdorff Gallery, and venues throughout the Midwest. His honors include First Place at ArtPrize, the Grand Valley Artists Award, the LowellArts Partnership Award, and the Roulet Medal from the Toledo Museum of Art.
His work is held in permanent collections including Amway International Headquarters, the State Masonic Lodge Charitable Foundation of Michigan, the Dominican Sisters of Aquinas at Marywood, and the City of East Grand Rapids.
In addition to his studio practice, LaPorte serves as Associate Professor of Art at Aquinas College, where he has twice served as Interim Chair of the Art Department. His decades-long experience producing commissioned portraiture and live drawing has informed a disciplined studio methodology rooted in endurance, observation, and human connection.
Chris LaPorte
www.chrislaporte.com
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023. All ArtWorks. Grand Rapids Michigan.
2022. Batdorff Gallery. Big Rapids, Michigan.
2016. Monumental. Reynolds Gallery. Texas A&M University, College.
2015. Recent Work. Leep Art Gallery. Pine Rest, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023. ArtPrize Retrospective. ArtPrize Hub, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2018. 10 Years of ArtPrize. Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, Michigan.
2018. Master of Drawing Exhibition. Midland Center for the Arts, Midland, Michigan.
2014. DRAWN. Manifest Gallery. Cincinnati, Ohio.
2014. Toledo Area Artist Exhibition. Toledo Art Museum, Toledo, Ohio.
2014. 5th Annual Drawing Discourse. University of North Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina.
2013. Teachers Show. Fire Barn Gallery, Grand Haven, Michigan.
2013. American Art Today: Figures. Bascom Center of Visual Arts, Highlands, North Carolina.
2013. 4th Annual Drawing Discourse. University of North Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina.
Sept 2010-14 ArtPrize. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan.
Mar 2008, 2011. Live Coverage. UICA, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jun 2006-19. Muskegon Regional Exhibition. Muskegon Art Museum, Muskegon, Michigan.
Nov 2005-24. Aquinas Faculty Exhibition. Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Jun 2005-24 Festival Exhibition. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
COMMISSIONS
2025. Shenanigans.
2020. Masonic Lodge.
2022. World Leaders. Amway International Headquarters.
2020. Homage.
2018. Dominican Sisters of Aquinas.
2016. Icebreakers.
2010. Cavalry.
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
2025. Silva.
2022. Amway International Headquarters.
2020. Masonic Lodge, State Masonic Lodge Charitable Foundation. Alma Michigan.
2020. Aquinas College.
2018. Dominican Sisters of Aquinas at Marywood.
2016. City of East Grand Rapids.
GRANTS, HONORS, AND AWARDS
2023. Grand Valley Artists Award, Regional Arts Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2023. Lowell Arts Partnership Award, Regional Arts Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2014. Roulet Medal, TAA Exhibition, Toledo Art Museum.
2014. INDA, Annual Publication, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2013. Juror’s Award 2D, Festival of the Arts, UICA, Michigan.
2013. Juror’s Award, Drawing Discourse, UNC Asheville, North Carolina.
2012. Top 10, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan.
2012. Juror’s Award, Regional Exhibition, Muskegon Art Museum, Michigan.
2012. 4th Place, Regional Exhibition, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, Michigan.
2011. President’s Award, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2010. 1st Place, ArtPrize, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan.
2010. Best in Show, Regional Exhibition, Studio 23, Bay City, Michigan.
2010. People’s Choice Award, Regional Exhibition, Studio 23, Bay City, Michigan.
2010. People’s Choice Award, Regional Arts Exhibition, Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2010. Juror’s Award, Regional Arts Exhibition, Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2010. Varineau Family Award, Regional Arts Exhibition, Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
SELECTED JUROR, WORKSHOPS, AND LECTURES
GUEST LECTURES
2026. (Forthcoming) Artist Lecture. Aquinas College. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2022. Artist Lecture. Batdorff Gallery, Big Rapids, Michigan.
2019. Artist Lecture. Midland Center of the Arts. Midland, Michigan.
2016. Artist Lecture. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.
2014. Artist Lecture. Toledo Art Museum, Toledo, Ohio.
2014. Artist Lecture. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2012. Artist Lecture. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2010. Artist Lecture. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2005. Artist Lecture, Critique, Crit-o-rama, Urban Institute of Contemporary Arts, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
SELECTED CURATORIAL AND JUROR WORK
2014. Juror, Grand Haven Summer Art Fair. Grand Haven, Michigan.
2012. Juror, Annual Regional Exhibition, Uptown Gallery. Grand Haven, Michigan.
2011. Juror, Festival of the Arts Regional Arts Competition. Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
GUEST WORKSHOP
2016-2018. SCECH Workshops, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
2014-2015. Drawing Workshops, Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
EDUCATION
1999. M.F.A. Painting. New York Academy of Art—The Graduate School of Figurative Art.
1996. B.F.A. Studio Art Painting and Drawing. Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1996. Lacoste School of Arts, Lacoste, France.
1992. University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2017-Present. Associate Professor of Art. Aquinas College. Grand Rapids, MI.
2013-2017. Assistant Professor of Art. Aquinas College. Grand Rapids, MI.
2011-2013. Visiting Professor. Aquinas College. Grand Rapids, MI.
2003-2011. Adjunct Instructor. Aquinas College. Grand Rapids, MI.
2005-2006. Adjunct Instructor. Grand Valley State University. Grand Rapids, MI.
2003-2005. Adjunct Instructor. Kendall College of Art and Design. Grand Rapids, MI.
LEADERSHIP POSITIONS2024, 2019. Interim Chair of the Art Department. Aquinas College.
PUBLICATIONS
2016. WoodTV8. Chris LaPorte has ‘street cred’ as only hometown ArtPrize winner.
2012. This is Colossal. One Man, 1,200 Hours, and Over 100 Pencils: City Band, A Monumental Drawing by Chris LaPorte.