Biography
Christopher Felver is a cultural documentarian. His distinctive visual signature is a lasting contribution to the legacy of our national cultural community. Felver's films & photographs reads like a roster of American mid-century avant-garde.
Felver's books are: Tending the Fire: Native Voices & Portraits (University of New Mexico Press, 2017); American Jukebox (Indiana University Press, 2014); Beat (Last Gasp, 2007) an intimate memoir of image, text, and reminiscence; The Late Great Allen Ginsberg (Thunder's Mouth Press, 2002); The Importance of Being (Arena Editions, 2001), with 400 portraits of eminent figures in American arts, letters, music, and politics; Ferlinghetti Portrait (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1998); Angels, Anarchists & Gods (Louisiana State University Press, 1996), featuring the American avant-garde; The Poet Exposed (Alfred Van der Marck Editions, 1986), a monograph of contemporary American poets; and Seven Days in Nicaragua Libre (City Lights Books, 1984), co-authored with Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
Mr. Felver's documentaries have captured the spirit and creativity of many international artists and include The Spirit of Golf (2020); Anthony Cragg: Inside/Outside (2020); Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder (2013); Cecil Taylor: All the Notes (2005); Donald Judd's Marfa Texas (1998); The Coney Island of Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1996); Tony Cragg: In Celebration of Sculpture (1993); John Cage Talks About Cows (1991); Taken by the Romans (1990); West Coast: Beat & Beyond (1984); and California Clay in the Rockies (1983).
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the New York Public Library, and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston have presented retrospectives of his films. Mr. Felver's work has been exhibited in many forums worldwide including: Guild Hall, East Hampton (2016); New York Public Library (2007); Fahey Klein Gallery in Los Angeles (2002); The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC (2006); the Maine Photographic Workshop (2002); Robert Berman Gallery, Los Angeles (2007,2014); the New York Public Library (2007); Blues for Smoke, MOCA Los Angeles (2012) & New York Whitney Museum (2013, 2016); Art Institute for the Permian Basin, Odessa, Texas(1987); Arco d' Alibert, Rome (1987); Torino Fotografia Biennale Internazionale, Italy (1989); Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris (1994); La Biennale di Venezia (1996); Roosevelt Study Center, Middelburg, Netherlands (1998); London National Theatre( 2011).
