Born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles, Christina Quarles earned her MFA from the Yale School of Art in 2016. Her practice emerged from a background in drawing and writing, leading to a breakthrough in the contemporary art scene through her distinct approach to figurative abstraction.

Her work is characterized by fragmented, contorted bodies that blend into complex, patterned environments. Using acrylic paint on canvas, she employs a signature style that challenges traditional methods of physical classification, often utilizing distorted perspectives and vibrant, layered color palettes to represent the complexities of lived experience.

Quarles has gained significant international recognition for her contributions to contemporary painting. Her work is frequently cited for its ability to navigate the intersections of queer identity and the human condition, solidifying her position as a prominent voice in the millennial generation of artists.