The Family
Painting on canvas • Attributed to Christopher 'CHOR' Boogie
Style & Movement
Contemporary Surrealism / New Figurative / Street Art Infused Surrealism
Medium & Technique
Oil and mixed media on canvas, utilizing impasto, collage elements, and sgraffito
Creation Period
Modern/Contemporary Era (late 20th to early 21st century)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 36 inches; horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
A surreal family portrait in a domestic living room. The figures possess distorted, oversized heads with mangled or abstracted facial features. A father figure in a suit sits beside a pink, skeletal/muscle-textured figure. The background features a large modernist painting and a lampshade with a 'smiley face' icon, creating a juxtaposition between mundane domesticity and psychological horror.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible surface cracking and structural distortion/warping across the canvas
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $12,000
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $7,000
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a private collection or contemporary gallery of urban/low-brow art; contains signature 'CHOR' in the lower right corner
Art Historical Significance
The work explores themes of suburban alienation, the collapse of the nuclear family ideal, and the grotesque. It aligns with the 'Lowbrow' or Pop Surrealism movement, using kitsch aesthetic elements to deliver a darker psychological narrative.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'CHOR' signature; high-contrast between the smooth rendering of the room and the visceral, thick texture of the heads; meta-painting within the background depicting abstract figures.
Condition Issues
Significant linear cracking throughout the paint film suggesting environmental stress or poor support tension; possible surface grime; slight loss of pigment in high-texture areas
Conservation Recommendations
Structural stabilization of the canvas; professional cleaning; UV-protective glazing and a controlled climate to prevent further cracking of the brittle impasto