Biography

Before turning to painting full time, Christine Cariati worked as a bibliographer of rare books for the Fales Collection at New York University and later for a private book dealer in San Francisco. While pursuing this career, she continued to study the history of textile design, and in particular, the symbolic and historical use of textiles in painting.

This interest in textiles led to several years of teaching weaving and textile design. In 1985 she founded Cariati & Wainwright, a company that designed hand-woven silk fabrics for womens clothing and the interiors market. Her interest in, and experience with, manuscripts and textiles is reflected in her painting.

She has also been involved in curatorial work. In 2003, Christine helped conceive and curate a benefit art auction for San Franciscos Friends of the Urban Forest, Arcadia: Artists Celebrate Trees. This biennial event, which she reprised in 2005 and 2007, has raised over $500,000 for FUF.

Christine was raised in New York City and lives with her family in San Francisco, California.