Raised on the picturesque island of Maui, Christian Riese Lassen grew up surfing and appreciating marine life up close. Eventually, Lassen felt the urge to express himself and his love of nature through art. Entirely self-taught, Lassen is known for creating “multi-environmental” paintings, which show wildlife above and below the surface of the water, thus making a poignant statement about the interconnection of Earth’s bio-systems. Through his work, Lassen seeks “simplicity, reality, and truth,” which he is able to achieve by being completely connected to his environment. When speaking about his process, Lassen says, “The thing about art and surfing is: the wave is like an empty canvas. I try to do something new and different with each; every time.”

Lassen is also passionate about the preservation of the oceans, as they encompass a large part of his life both in and out of the studio. He passionately supports Seavision, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the marine environment and wildlife and he was also the United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for 1998, the International Year of the Ocean. His passion for the ocean shows through each of his paintings, which makes his work coveted in private collections around the world. Lassen and his work have been seen on “Life Styles of the Rich and the Famous” 20/20, CNN, and the Travel Channel.