Christine Knize is a New York-born artist whose career is defined by a synthesis of classical discipline and large-scale architectural vision. A third-generation artist, Knize carries forward a matrilineal legacy of creative excellence, a foundation further refined at the Tyler School of Art and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she earned her BFA and MFA, respectively.

Knize’s technical excellence was established during a formative three-year residency in Italy and France. Immersed in the mastery of the Renaissance, she developed a lifelong devotion to oil painting and a keen photographic eye for the ephemeral—elements that remain the hallmark of her contemporary work.

The Miami Era & Architectural Legacy In 1986, Knize transitioned her studio from Manhattan’s Tribeca to Miami, where she merged fine art with luxury development. Her expertise in specialized paint decoration and high-end construction garnered an elite clientele, including Oprah Winfrey, the Bob Marley family, and Micky Arison.

Beyond private commissions, Knize has left an indelible mark on Florida’s architectural history. She served as a lead artisan in the meticulous restoration of the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, hand-painting the finishes that adorn the ceilings and ballrooms of the historic landmark. Additionally, she was an early collaborator in the foundational renovations of the Miami Beach Art Deco District, working alongside the preservationists who defined the aesthetic of the Miami Beach strip.

Contemporary Practice Now based in Jacksonville, Florida, Knize focuses on large-scale canvases that explore botanical elegance. Her current practice is centered on a celebrated series of orchid portraits—works that combine the rigor of her classical European training with a modern, immersive scale.

Knize’s career stands as a bridge between historical preservation and contemporary fine art, defined by a relentless pursuit of technical perfection and aesthetic grace.

My orchids are not just flowers—they are quiet witnesses.
Their scale is intentional: a whisper made large, a meditation in bloom.
In painting them, I slow time. I invite stillness in a world that rarely stop

Each petal holds a tension between fragility and resilience.
They speak to the vanishing—of habitats, of silence, of tenderness.
But they also speak to survival

In their curves and shadows, I find echoes of femininity, memory, and transformation.
The orchid becomes a mirror: of beauty, of vulnerability, of strength we forget we carry.
If they relate to contemporary issues, it is because they insist on presence.
And presence, in these times, is a radical act.

Christine Knize MFA RISD