St. Petersburg’s own Chris Parks—who works under the name Palehorse—will unveil his new solo exhibition, Shapeshifter, at the Morean Arts Center on October 10. The show marks 20 years of the artist’s presence in the city and his first solo presentation in a decade.
From skate‑boards to sacred symbols
Parks, 47, began his career designing flyers for skateboard events, hardcore bands, and wrestling promotions. His early work was steeped in the local punk and metal scenes, and he quickly earned commissions from national brands such as Nike, Under Armour, Pepsi, and Hasbro, as well as major music acts like Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age.
In 2004 a trip to Thailand changed his creative direction. Visiting Buddhist temples and Hindu statues sparked a fascination with spiritual archetypes. “I grew up going to church and then rejected it in college,” Parks recalls. “Seeing those ancient artworks gave me a new lens for my own art.”
Art that bridges cultures
The Shapeshifter collection reflects that blend of influences. Parks incorporates imagery from India, Japan, Egypt, and Western mythology, pairing bold graphic design with painted elements. He describes the show’s title as both a “creative muse” and a “spiritual guru” guiding the artist’s inner journey.
His work also honors local collaboration. In 2012, Parks and fellow St. Pete artist Tes One (Leon Bedore) painted the massive “State Lines” mural on the back of the historic State Theatre, a project that helped launch the city’s SHINE Mural Festival in 2015. Bedore notes, “Chris takes his spiritual perspective and turns it into something uniquely St. Pete.”
Personal growth and community outreach
Beyond the canvas, Parks has embraced meditation and yoga, leading weekly meditation groups on Wednesdays and a Sunday Ananda Yoga session. He says these practices have become integral to his creative process, helping him “tune outside of myself” and invite larger ideas into his work.
During the pandemic in 2020, Parks paused commercial commissions to focus solely on personal expression. The slowdown allowed him to deepen his study of Eastern philosophy, read the Bhagavad‑Gita as interpreted by Paramahansa Yogananda, and explore the natural psychedelic psilocybin in a controlled, intentional manner for self‑growth.
Exhibition details
The opening reception runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, at the Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Avenue. In conjunction with Parks’s show, the center will host “Practice Dying: A Skull & Bones Exhibit,” featuring works by 30 regional artists, including Tes One, Nicole Salgar, and BASK.
Visitors can expect large‑scale paintings, mixed‑media pieces, and a few surprise installations that invite viewers to explore their own inner narratives. Parks emphasizes that his art is meant to be approachable at any level, offering “rabbit holes and portals” for those who wish to delve deeper.
For St. Petersburg residents and art lovers alike, Shapeshifter offers a chance to witness how a local artist has transformed personal adversity—growing up with hip dysplasia and multiple surgeries—into a vibrant, spiritually infused body of work that celebrates both the city’s gritty subculture and timeless global myths.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
