An interest in the culture of consumerism and the particularities of the contemporary recessionary moment are explored in an ongoing series of soft sculptures works that reference shopping carts. More recently Holstad has examined devotional texts (The Book of Hours, 2013), the various types of borders, boundaries and constraints in our environment that impact our lives, from the political and governmental to the societal and personal (Corrections, 2014) and the visual and emotional encoding and decoding of the domestic sphere versus the external environment. (Toothpick, 2016, at Massimo De Carlo, Milan).

In his ongoing series of Eraserhead drawings the artist selectively erases sections of images cut from newspapers and magazines, transforming their meanings in ways that hint at hidden or subtextual layers beneath the surface of received, media-sanctioned culture. Between 2020-2022, Holstad worked with Sissi Daniella Oliveri on The Pasta Workshops at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bologna resulting in a publication of the same title.

Christian Holstad was born in Anaheim, California in 1972 and lives and works between New York City and Romagna, Italy. Recent solo exhibitions include Museo Civico Luigi Varoli, Cotignola, Ravenna (2024); Massimo de Carlo Pièce Unique, Paris (2023); Slow Fish, Genova (2021); Ca' Foscari University, Venice (2019); Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York (2017 and 2013) and Galleria national d'arte moderna, Rome (2009). The artist presented the multi-disciplinary performance work red, yellow, lime, pink, lavender, green, scarlet, lavender, scarlet, green, lavender as part of The Magazine Sessions 2016 at the Serpentine Galleries, London, and has participated in group exhibitions including The Flames: The Age of Ceramics, Musee d’art Moderne, Paris (2021); Transitions and Transformations,​ NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale (2019-21); Harald Szeemann - Grandfather: A Pioneer Like Us, Swiss Institute, New York (2019); A Cool Breeze, Galerie Rudolfinum, Prague (2019); Chromaphilia & Chromaphobia, Kansas City Art Institute (2016); From The Ruins..., 601Artspace, New York (2015); Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art, Hangzhou, China (2013); Paper, Saatchi Gallery, London (2013); Aquatopia, Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, touring to Tate St Ives (2013); Graphite, Indianapolis Museum of Art (2013); The Air We Breathe, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (2011); Coming After, The Power Plant, Toronto (2011); Compilation IV, Kunsthalle, Dusseldorf (2009); Compass in Hand: Selections from the Judith Rothschild Collection, Museum of Modern Art, New York (2009); Unmonumental (Inaugural Exhibition), New Museum, New York (2017) and Uncertain States of America, Serpentine Gallery, London (2006). Holstad participated in the Lyon Biennial in 2007 and the Whitney Biennial in New York in 2004. His work is in the permanent collections of institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and Astrup Fearnley Museet for Moderne Kunst, Oslo.