Madison resident Chris Ritter developed interests in photography, drawing and painting early in life.  In the  1970s, Ritter, a native of Akron, Ohio, studied photo-illustration and contemporary photography at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.  He also studied at the Portland Museum School of Art in Portland, Maine.  

Chris' interests turned to modern and abstract-expressionist painting under the influence of his uncle, artist and
art dealer Chris Ritter of Ogunquit, Maine.  The elder Chris Ritter (1904-1976) worked in New York City, San Francisco, and Maine during his life. Modern masters Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, and Willem DeKooning have also influenced Ritter's exploration in painting.
 
Working in the gallery and picture framing  business for thirty years, Ritter has gained exposure to widely varied styles and disciplines of painting, as well as other media, and has enjoyed working with other artists across the country. 

Chris has been a resident of Madison since 2001 when he moved here from Washington, D.C. to be with his future wife, Janet, a longtime Madison resident.  He also joined his sister, Harriet Ritter, and her family in Madison. 

Chris and Janet reside in town with Janet's daughter, Kristin Casella, who is a junior at Madison High School.  Janet's older daughter, Katie Casella, is a sophomore at Stevens Institute.

Before his move to Madison, Chris worked with Archival Art Services in Washington, D.C., often on projects for the Smithsonian Institution.  Since residing in Madison, he has worked for Barc Frameworks in Long Island City, and Jerry's Artist Outlet in West Orange, N.J.

Ritter's photographs and paintings have been exhibited in Maine, New Hampshire, Georgia, Ohio, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and New York City.  Ritter's work has also been included in several private collections in the U.S. and Italy.