CLARISSA CALLESEN
CLARISSA
CALLESEN
Multidisciplinary
Visionary
Artist and Instructor
rescuer of the discarded and unappreciated
I create from a place of passion, imperfection, and deep authenticity—turning discarded objects into art that tells a story, stirs emotions, and makes you feel something.
Creativity isn’t about being perfect—it’s about showing up, making a mess, and being brave enough to keep going. I pour my heart into fiber, found objects, art journaling and the beautiful chaos of the creative process.
I have a soft spot for the forgotten and the broken. Giving discarded materials new life feels like a kind of magic—raw, honest, and deeply personal.
Beyond the Background:
A New Way to Gelli (Oct 22):
A one-day workshop that reimagines Gelli printing as a tool for expressive,
stand-alone artworks.
I'm excited to be teaching at Art & Soul Portland this fall! Join me for two expressive workshops: Layered & Unruly: Rogue Art Book, a two-day dive into wild, intuitive bookmaking, and Beyond the Background: A New Way to Gelli, where we’ll push Gelli printing into bold new territory. Let’s make some beautifully messy magic together!
Layered & Unruly: Rogue Art Book (Oct 20–21): A two-day mixed media exploration where we'll embrace imperfection and create richly textured art books.
My fiber art is an emotional, tactile exploration of imperfection, memory, and transformation. Using rescued textiles and found objects, I create sculptural pieces that carry the beauty of what’s been discarded—raw,
honest, and deeply human.
Each piece tells a story.
My installations are immersive environments built from rescued materials and stitched-together stories. I create them to pull art off the walls and into real space—inviting you to step inside, feel, and experience rather than just observe. Rooted in vulnerability and authenticity, these spaces transform the cold gallery into something raw, emotional, and alive.
Art Journaling
Art journaling has been my creative sanctuary for 25 years—a space where I can explore, express, and simply be. What started as a way to process emotions has grown into a deeply personal ritual, a refuge where symbols, colors, and unexpected juxtapositions tell my story in ways words cannot. Here, perfection has no place, and the critic stays outside.
This is where I am free.
2D Art
Although 2D work hasn’t been my primary focus, it has always been an integral part of my creative practice. As with all my art, texture remains at the core—layered, tactile, and deeply multimedia. Incorporating found ephemera, Gelli prints, paint, sand, rust, and more, each piece is a fusion of materials that brings depth and dimension to the surface.
View 2D Art
Visionary
art environments
Visionary art environments are immersive, large-scale spaces built from personal vision—often using reclaimed materials and created outside the traditional art world. These places are my sacred spaces, my “churches.”
I’ve had the joy of contributing to East Jesus, a sustainable art environment in Slab City, and I’m now working toward building a small visionary space of my own—raw, handmade, and deeply alive.
View East Jesus Art Enviroment
View Personal Art Environment
