Chris Paschke: A Fusion of East, West, and Abstract Expressionism

Chris Paschke is an internationally acclaimed artist and calligrapher whose work bridges the aesthetics of Eastern and Western traditions with the dynamic energy of abstract expressionism. With a lifelong passion for drawing, painting, and lettering, she creates art that speaks without words—capturing emotion and spirit through form, texture, and movement.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Chris earned her BFA in Creative Arts and Design, Magna Cum Laude, from San Jose State University and Cal Poly Humboldt. Her artistic journey has been shaped by studies with master calligraphers across Europe in Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Russia, as well as a transformative visit to China that infused her work with the elegance and philosophy of traditional Chinese and Japanese Sumi-e painting.

Inspired by the timeless craftsmanship of old-world scribes, the expressive brushwork of Chinese artisans, and the bold abstraction of Kline, Pollock, Rothko, Gottlieb, Motherwell, and Jasper Johns, Chris has developed a contemporary style uniquely her own. Her art often begins with the Enso—the Zen circle symbolizing the beauty of imperfection and the flow of creativity—allowing her materials to guide the composition.

Passionate about Asian brushes, papers, and pigments, Chris skillfully blends calligraphy and wash techniques with Western design sensibilities. In 2007, she began working with encaustic—a medium of pigmented beeswax and damar resin—which enabled her to fuse embedded images, abstract forms, and Asian calligraphy into layered, textural compositions. Her work incorporates a range of techniques and materials, including gesso, resist, watercolor, gouache, collaged paper, and shimmering gold leaf accents.

With a career spanning decades, Chris continues to redefine contemporary art through her innovative fusion of East and West, tradition and abstraction—creating works that resonate with both visual beauty and spiritual depth.