The Chase Edwards Gallery presents There Are No Words… a solo presentation by Christopher Florentin “Flore.” Christopher Florentino is a Miami / New York based painter who goes by the name of Flore. Flore has dubbed his aesthetic as “urban cubism,” which channels New York’s unique energies into paintings. New York’s heady blend of sound, color and movement has provided inspiration for generations of artists and musicians. Inspirations range from jazz greats like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane to the Abstract Expressionists during the 1950s and 1960s, to the vibrant graffiti art scene that flourishes both on the streets and in the galleries. 

Intentionally choosing words that leave room for multiple interpretations, Flore creates space for his viewers to develop their own narratives alongside evoking introspective emotive moments. While exploring those motifs, he showcases his deep influence from the late Keith Haring through graphic and text-heavy pieces that interpret the myriad of experiences and nuances of the world. The show will further delve into his artistry while in tandem deconstructing the way we grow up in America — a concept birthed from being creatively triggered by music, conversation and philosopher Alan Watts.

Flore’s urban cubism is a synthesis of many influences, past and present. But it is above all a tribute to his native city. He lived away from New York for four years in Winter Haven, Florida, where he resided in a modernist Gene Leedy-designed home. There, surrounded by his art and furniture collection he continued to create his trademark paintings. However, Flore found that he missed the vitality of his native city. Now he is back, ensconced in a studio in the East Village. There he pulls together many different strands of art and life to create work that speaks of existence in a place that is always moving, always changing and always completely alive.