Photo by Timothy Kelly
A bit about me
Hey there! My name is Christian Henrriquez, but you can call me Chris if you'd like. If you're feeling spicy, call me "Chrisito"–that's what my grandma calls me. Welcome to my design portfolio! Here, you'll find my resume, snapshots of my work, and a bit about me. What you won't find on here are my tech table giggles, comm jokes, and dedication to a collaborative work environment–but trust me, they're all part of the package. I'm all about storytelling and creating eye-catching environments with lighting. I hope we get to create something really cool together soon and have a good time along the way!
My Story
I am a queer, first-gen Salvadoran American lighting designer and teaching artist from Costa Mesa, California. I am incredibly grateful to create art, play with lights, and craft experiences that connect with people. Storytelling runs through everything I do–it's how my family has kept our culture alive, and it's the heart of my work. I aim to share stories from across cultures and identities, fostering empathy in this whirlwind world.
I hold an MFA in Lighting Design and a Latin American & Caribbean Studies graduate certificate from the University of Maryland. Before grad school, I sharpened my technical skills as an entertainment technician at the Disneyland Resort and inspired young minds as a teaching artist in Southern California.
In 2020, I co-founded Wayward Voices with my friend and collaborator, Reed Flores. Wayward Voices is an initiative of The Wayward Artist to amplify, uplift, and empower BIPOC artists through a virtual four-show season, a new play workshop, and collaborations. Though I've moved on, the mission continues.
I am currently a company member at In The Margin: a service-minded, community-oriented art and advocacy organization comprised of multifaceted, intersectional creatives and community organizers from around the country.
In 2023, I became a part of La Gente: The Latinx Theatre Production Network. La Gente is a collective of Latinx theatre designers, artists, technicians, and managers around the US. We believe that theatre is more beautiful when there's room for everyone at the table.
Design Philosophy
My design philosophy is two-fold. Aesthetics and production approaches work in synergy. My design aesthetic prioritizes color and texture. My Latin American upbringing showed me that food, music, clothing, people, stories, and every aspect of our community is colorful. Life is lived in a spectrum of vivid colors. This life experience has inspired me to use color when creating emotional and energetic environments in my work. I use bold color palettes to accentuate the characters' emotional landscape and shape the atmosphere. Texture works in tandem to create those atmospheres. I define texture as the use of shadow/light, lines, depth, and accents to shape a composition. Each of these characteristics helps add dimension, tension, and relief. I find it impossible to separate my art from my identity. My cultural experiences are the most valuable part of my identity, and I could not create my art without them.
In addition to design aesthetics, I aim to keep a human-focused approach in my work. To me, “human-focused” means prioritizing the needs, experiences, and well-being of the people I work with. It is about deeply understanding and empathizing with human experiences, ensuring that whatever is being developed considers accessibility, inclusion, mental health, and the overall well-being of a person. I believe that a working environment should excite people and encourage them to be present. To support a positive environment, I actively choose to engage in empathic and responsive listening. I am a firm believer that working in community is the key to collaboration and storytelling. I am actively exploring what “working in community” means to me. At this point in my life, it means prioritizing learning and mentorship, creating a safe and respectful working environment, encouraging interrogation of ideas, and acknowledging opportunities for personal growth. It also means examining a story and approaching it with empathy and honesty. Approaching a theatrical work intentionally to share moments with other people in hopes of better understanding our diverse experiences. At the end of the day, theater is a tool for storytelling and participating in the human experience.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.