Born July 15, 1991 in Baltimore, Maryland. Christlyn creates drawings, paintings, digital and mixed media art.  Drawing from the human form as her subject matter, Christlyn creates portraits as a means to address and express her views on a variety of issues. She strives to develop forms (portraits) that do not follow the “normal” logical criteria of traditional portraiture. She challenges these norms through the composition, figure placement, medium and scale of her work.  

Christlyn’s drawings are characterized by the use of everyday objects, specifically the human face. In choosing this subject she aims to approach it in a multilayered way. In a society where the vast majority operates by “judging a book by its cover,” she uses her work respond to and challenge those stereotypical prejudgments born from a patriarchal structure that she believes is limiting and debilitating; subsequently, leaving those persons operating on the tenants of those prejudgments stuck at the surface.  

Her work draws on some personal experiences that are presented as framed stills that would typically go unnoticed in their original context. Her interest in unconventional portraiture was inspired by artist Chuck Close, who approaches portraits in an unconventional manner through his immense scale and optical blending technique.