My love is sculptural figurative art, as it is the ultimate celebration of the power, potential and beauty of human form and spirit. There is a geometric unity and rhythm in the design of the human figure that can only be expressed through sculpture. I see human anatomy as an engineering miracle and the perfect machine that houses the soul. My work is an ongoing exploration of blending the modern with the traditional using geometric and architectural elements into figurative art. I strive to express the life force, tension and energy that spirals through us and to translate this power, energy and spirit into my work in whatever form that it takes.
Christian Thomas Ashdale was born on April 9, 1999 in New York City. His parents, Rita A. Ashdale, and Stephen L. Nosal. Christian was “discovered” in a doctor’s office by actor Curt May when he was about to turn three years old. Curt Introduced Christian to his agents at CED, which is now CESD. Christian’s first job was as a GAP baby, modeling for GAP print work. When Christian was 4 years old, he got his first acting job in the ongoing role of “Baby Jack” on the ABC television soap opera. One Life to Live. Christian also appeared in the shows All My Children and on Nick at Nite while continuing to do modeling, print work and commercials. He studied tap and ballet starting at the age of two. He attended prestigious NYC dancing schools including Ballet Academy East, The School of American Ballet (on scholarship) and the American Tap Foundation. Christian grew up constantly visiting museums in NYC, especially the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the same time, he started drawing, sculpting, and studying anatomy and has always been obsessed with the human figure.
In October 2007 Christian landed the costarring role of Buckley Salmon in the movie The Lovely Bones directed by Peter Jackson. While on Lovely Bones, Christian worked with Oscar winners Peter Jackson, Susan Sarandon and Rachel Weisz as well as nominees Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci and Mark Wahlberg. After that, Christian costarred in The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular in the role of Ben for two years. Christian Performed alongside the famous Radio City Rockettes and Santa himself!
Christian was eight years old when he was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia. These learning disabilities had a significant adverse impact on his school life due to the relentless failures and ineptitude of his NYC public school System. Despite these difficulties Christian went on to be on the Honor Roll in high school and overall succeed in school.
While attending the Professional Children’s School for high school, he took classes at The Art Students League and the National Academy School of Fine Arts in NYC. In 2015, Christian took a class at the National Academy where he started studying with sculptor Sabin Howard. In early 2016, Sabin won the World War One National Monument commission, and shortly after Christian started working with Sabin as an apprentice and model. Christian Graduated from the Professional Children’s School in 2017. He attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia, PA while working full time as a sculptor on the WWI Monument. Christian Graduated PAFA in May of 2022 with a BFA.
Since the World War I project, Christian has gone on to work for a major prop and fabrication studio in the New York area. He worked on a team creating specialized props for Movies and Tv Shows such as Severance, Daredevil Born Again, Marty Supreme, a House of Dynamite and many more.
Christian is currently working with a stone carving start up that sits on the intersection of art and technology. It involves advanced robotics, and a group of highly skilled artists and computer programmers working together to create permanent monumental sculptures, pieces of architecture, and custom private pieces all out of different types of stone.