Chris Groves love of art grew from his early experiences with nature and the introduction of a master sculpture in his youth. Groves was born in Boulder, Colorado, but soon moved with his family to Slidell, Louisiana. Those early years in Slidell were spent outside, exploring the woods, swimming in the bayou, boating, fishing, playing with snakes and other wild animals. It was during those years that Groves learned to love the outdoors and nature.

At the age of ten, Groves' family returned to Boulder where he continued his exploration of nature with countless hikes, mountain climbs and camping trips. His parents gave him a nature-drawing book and Groves latched onto it as a source of awe and inspiration. He would spend countless hours copying the drawings and enhancing them with his own interpretation. His parents, recognizing their sons talent and appreciation of art, hired a private tutor to instruct him in basic techniques. Soon, Groves' interest turned from nature to people. Groves looked to friends and siblings as a source of inspiration and drew detailed portraits of their faces.

In high school, Groves met sculptor, Glenna Goodacre, the mother of a school friend. Meeting with her and seeing some of the success she enjoyed as a artist (Vietnam Womens memorial, Sacagawea US Dollar design) helped to inspire Groves' own artistic aspirations.

After graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.F.A. in Environmental Design, Groves spent the next ten years as an art director for two large companies, all the while continuing to study and hone his fine art skills.

Groves has studied at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy, the Colorado Academy of Art, the Loveland Art Academy, the Cottonwood Art Academy and the Denver Arts Students League. He also enjoyed a private, two- year mentorship with artist Jay Moore.

Groves paintings hang in numerous private and corporate collections and he is the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions listed below.

 

Florence Academy of Art, Italy

CAA Atelier Colorado– Classical Academy 

Lead Landscape Instructor CAA Atelier Colorado (2004-2008)

Colorado University, BFA Environmental Design/Architecture

 PAP-SE – Plein Air Painters of the Southeast

OPA – Oil Painters of America

AIS – American Impressionist Society

PSA – Portrait Society of America

Honors and Awards
• CM Russell Museum Juried Invitational 2012 – Landscape - Great Falls MT
• Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 2012 Invitational - Montgomery AL
• The Bennington “Artists for the New Century” Invitational June 2012, Bennington, VT 
• Columbus Museum of Fine Art Auction Invitational, 2012 Columbus, GA
• American Impressionist Society  12th Annual National Juried Exhibit 2011, Carmel CA 
• OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition 2011, Addison Gallery, Orleans, MA
• Salon International 2010, Still Life - San Antonio, TX

• Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts 2010 Art Auction Live and Silent - Montgomery AL

• International Autumn Painting Challenge and Competition".  First Prize – Oil

• CM Russell Museum Masters in Miniature 2009 – Still Life- Great Falls MT
• Salmagundi Club Open Exhibit, Still Life- New York NY
• Oil Painters of America Eastern, Still Life - Winner Top 100 – 2008
• Hilton Head Art League – National Juried Art Exhibit 2008 –
• Arts for the Parks – Top 100 – 2008 – Winner Jurors Award
• Selected Artists to Paint “THE NINE” Portraits. Selected by the City of Charleston,SC
• Selected Artist to paint 9th and 10th Bishops of Colorado (Denver)
• Rocky Mountain Plein-Air Painters Group – RMPAP - Invited Artist 2007
• Arts for the Parks – Top 100 Mini50 – 2007

Selections and Exhibits

2012
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, February 2012,  Montgomery AL
CM Russell Museum – March 2012, Great Falls, MT
Artist in Residence – Palmetto Bluff,  March 2012, Bluffton, SC
Two-Person Show with Mark K Horton, Shain Gallery, April 2012, Charlotte, NC
Four Sight, Horton Hayes – May 2012, Charleston SC
The Bennington “Artists for the New Century” June 2012, Bennington, VT
Columbus Museum of Fine Art Auction, Columbus, GA
“Southern Seascapes” Solo Show, Anderson Fine Art, Nov 2012, Saint Simons, GA

2011
OPA – Oil Painters of America Eastern – Addison Gallery, Orleans, MA
AIS – American Impressionist Society – Mountainsong Gallery, CA
One Man Show – The Classical Still Life - Horton Hayes Oct 2011 Charleston SC
Two Person Show – Landscapes of England - Horton Hayes - Nov 2010 Charleston SC
Two Person Show – New Works Groves w/ Kudlow – Dec 2011 Anderson Gallery. GA
CAG Gallery – Groves, Beerman, Horton - Sept 2011, Greenville, NC

2010
Two Person Show – The Four Seasons w/ Judith Kudlow – Anderson Gallery. GA
One Man Show - Reflection - Horton Hayes Oct 2010 Charleston SC
Two Person Show - Light and Life of Italy - Horton hayes - Nov 2010 Charleston SC
Two Man Show - 4 Seasons - Anderson Fine Arts - St Simons, GA & NYC, NY
Two Man Show - Pit County - CAG - October 2010
Charleston Fine Art Auction – Invitational Auction - Nov 2010
Autumn Competition, Bucks County Gallery, New Hope, PA, Feb 2010
Birmingham Museum Auction Feb 2010
Portrait Alliance of America - March 2010 - Colorado
Group Mountain Show -  March 2010  - Boulder Colorado

2009
Charleston Fine Art Auction – Invitational Auction - Nov 2009
One Man Show – October 2009 – Horton Hayes
Two Man Show – “The Autumn Show” – Anderson Fine Art Gallery – St Simons, GA
Salmagundi Club – Juried Exhibit New York, NY July 2009
Summer Solstice – Fountainside Gallery – Wilmington, NC
Two Man Show “The Hunt” – CAGallery  Sept 2009
Two man Show - Time and Place  - Horton Hayes – May 2009
One Man Show - Crescent Gallery – Spartanburg, NC, March 2009
Introductions – Anne Irwin Gallery – Atlanta, GA – Feb 2009
CM Russell Museum – Masters in Miniature – July 2009 – Great Falls, Montana
Portrait Alliance of the Rockies – Invitational Show – Denver, Colorado -Jan 2009

2008
Oil Painters of America Eastern - Richland Fine Art, Nashville, TN. – Nov 2008
Arts for the Parks – National Traveling Exhibit – Kansas City. Mo – Nov 2008
One Man Show – “Tones” Horton Hayes – May 2008
Hilton Head Art League – National Juried Art Exhibit– Hilton Head, SC – June 2008
Two Man Show – “New Works” CA Gallery – Sept 2008

2007
Rocky Mountain Plein-Air Painters – RMPAP - Invited Artist – Winter Park, Colorado
One Man Show – Horton Hayes – Mountains to Sea – March 2007
Two Man Show ‘ Lost and Found” – CA Gallery – Sept 2007
Selected Bib
American Art Collector – Feature Article November 2010, Issue 61 - Life /Light of Italy
American Art Collector – Feature Article October 2010, Issue 60 - Reflection
American Art Collector – Feature Article November 2009, Issue 49
American Art Collector – Feature Article October 2009, Issue 48 - Tones
Garden And Gun Magazine – August 2009
American Art Collector - Feature Article –  March 2007, Issue 17 - - Mountains to Sea
Article – P&C – July 2007 – “The Nine Portraits – Chris Groves”
Feature Article – Carolina Arts – “Chris Groves Mountains to Sea” March 2007
TCA – Feature Article Feb 2007

Galleries
Horton Hayes Fine Arts – Charleston, SC
Anderson Fine Art – St Simons, GA
Shain Gallery – Charlotte NC
Mary Williams Fine Art, Boulder, CO
Brigham Galleries