About Chris Combs is an artist and technologist based in Washington, D.C who creates provocative technology.

In a Nutshell

Through handmade and custom-fabricated hardware, software, and enclosures, the electronic sculptures of Chris Combs respond to themes of surveillance, control, and algorithmic bias–and the viewer, using facial recognition and motion sensing. He works with a wide range of practices to create circuit boards, software, and enclosures for his sculptures, which both embrace and question technology.

Chris's first solo exhibition, Judging Me Judging You, at the DC Arts Center's Nano Gallery explored themes of surveillance and control, and his work Markov Radio was included in a one-day Sound Scene event at the Hirshhorn Museum. He was a photo editor for National Geographic for five years and has photographed autism, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and traffic cones. He was selected as the Derek Lieu Spring 2020 Artist-in-Residence at HOLE IN THE SKY, and is a recipient of the DC CAH Arts and Humanities Fellowship program. He is a graduate of the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

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Exhibitions (Solo)

  • Lossiness. VisArts, Rockville MD. Upcoming: Sep-Oct 2021

  • Maelstrom. Rhizome DC, Washington, D.C. Jan-Feb 2021

  • Judging Me Judging You. DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C. April–August 2018

Exhibitions (Group)

  • Movement, Moments. Work: Side Guide Control. Target Gallery, Alexandria. Jan-Mar 2021

  • Spotlight. Work: Gateway (Transmission III). Touchstone Gallery, D.C. Dec 2020-Feb 2021

  • DEEP FAKE. Work: Morale is Mandatory, Naked Mueller. SUPERCOLLIDER, L.A. Nov 2020-Jan 2021

  • Global Conversation 2020. Google Arts & Culture, United Nations. Online. Work: Point of Sale. 

  • Wallmountables 2020. DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C. Aug-Oct 2020

  • Artist’s Choice Juried. Work: Rxsqtta-Stzne. Online. Foundry Gallery, Washington, D.C. Aug 2020

  • WPA Auction, “High Frequency.” Work: Road Ahead. Online. Washington Project for the Arts, Washington, D.C. July-Aug 2020

  • Quarantine Dreams. Work: Loopback (Transmission I). Online. Gallery-V, Lex. Park, Md. Aug 2020

  • By The People x Monochrome Collective Art Fair. Work: Impressions, Point of Sale, Hand-Washing Timers. Online. Upcoming: June-July 2020

  • Moving Forward. Work: Loopback (Transmission I). Online. Glen Echo Park, MD. June-Aug 2020

  • Art + Technology 4.0. Work: Publish/Perish, Bureautron. TEJAS Gallery, Dayton, OH. March 2020

  • Enter: Future. Work: Rxsqtta-Stzne. Gallery 102, Washington, D.C. Nov 2019-Jan 2020

  • Everyday Objects. Work: Publish/Perish. Studio Montclair, Montclair, N.J. Nov-Dec 2019

  • When Darkness Falls. Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons, Md. Oct 2018-Jan 2019

  • Unfinished Business. VAE Raleigh, Raleigh, N.C. Sept-Dec 2019

  • Wallmountables 2019. DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C. July 2019

  • Wallmountables 2018. DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C. June 2018

  • Wallmountables 2017. DC Arts Center, Washington, D.C. July 2017

  • Photojournalism Thesis Exhibitions. Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, D.C. February 2006

Exhibitions (Events)

  • Georgetown GLOW. Work: MADNESS METHOD (with David Greenfieldboyce). Georgetown BID. Upcoming: April-Jun 2021.

  • Sound Scene XIII, a two-day event. Work: Closely Held. Online. Upcoming: June 2020.

  • DCAC 30th Anniversary Party. Work: Rxsqtta-Stzne. Cheshire D.C., Washington, D.C. Oct 2019

  • Mount Pleasant Lantern Walk, a one-night pop-up event. Work: Fireflies (with Rachel Kaufman). November 2018

  • Sound Scene XI, a two-day event. Work: The Heart Says. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gallery, Washington, D.C. July 2018

  • Buffer Overflow. Solo pop-up show. Fab Lab D.C., Washington, D.C. April 7-25 2018

  • Sound Scene X, a one-day event. Work: Markov Radio. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gallery, Washington, D.C. July 2017