Artwork

Green Gold Good Shepherd-candlelit
Transparent Brown Iron Oxide Homeless with St. Rose and dog
Quinacridone Gold Guru

Catherine Lecce-Chong

White Blindness Series

The Isolation Icons

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Catherine Lecce-Chong

San Francisco Bay Wisdom Log

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Catherine Lecce-Chong

Once Upon a Time

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Catherine Lecce-Chong

Zen Calligraphy & Mark Making Series

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Catherine Lecce-Chong

Rose Colored Glasses. The Children.

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Catherine Lecce-Chong

In the blink of an eye, in 2018, my life and art changed; I lost much of my vision. Decades of classical western painting or traditional asian painting and calligraphy, would fade away…but not the passion or the essential drive to create.

I became interested in my own and other persons perceptions with blindness. The first touch of braille was very soothing to me. There was texture and patterns. That experience led me to explore tactile methods in creating paintings.

Did you ever want to touch art in a gallery or museum? My work welcomes touch. The acrylic paint and many kinds of mediums and collaged materials are here to feel.

Because of the pain of my disability, I have to soothe my eyes with dark glasses. With just the right amount of light, or kind of illumination, I can paint. Sometimes, I have to resort to the gentleness of candlelight. Therefore, I thought you might enjoy seeing my art in this intimate way on my homepage. My website will also include high definition photos done by Rick Bolen of Sonoma.
Rick@bolenphoto.com

All artwork is described physically, with meaning or metaphors, and this artist’s personal reflections. The goal of this website is to be fully accessible. Thanks to my web designer, Marcia, at Cornucopia Creations in Sonoma.

My artwork is not for sale in the traditional sense. I create this work in gratitude to the community with disabilities and my teachers. My paintings are for display in non-profit organizations, schools, hospitals and regional museums. I hope it is a good reminder of our talents that we can all share. The artwork is available for sale or auctions for non-profits.

Kind thanks to my art assistant, Chloe Tula, who is a wonderful musician and harpist. Chloetula.com

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”

SF Bay Wisdom
Cobalt Blue Virgin with lights
Star in Black Lotus Pond

Biography

2021

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.

Full-time studio artist, part-time evaluator of accessibility for San Francisco Art Museums…

2021

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.

Full-time studio artist, part-time evaluator of accessibility for San Francisco Art Museums…

2021

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.

Full-time studio artist, part-time evaluator of accessibility for San Francisco Art Museums…

2021

SANTA ROSA, CALIF.

Full-time studio artist, part-time evaluator of accessibility for San Francisco Art Museums…

Work & Exhibits

My Work & Exhibits

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA

Full-time studio tactile art making in Oakmont
Part-time evaluator of accessibility for San Francisco Art Museums
Member of the Blind Posse and a Blind Ambassador for the art museum facilities and programs
Part-time insight meditation teacher

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

Full-time Artist
2016 SF Open Studios
Part-time Accessibility tester for San Francisco Art Museums
Art commission for Eugene Symphony

DENVER COLORADO

Space Gallery group exhibit

BOULDER, COLORADO

Three juried open studio exhibits
BMCA, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Two juried group shows
Art Commission for Boulder Associates Architects
Part-time arts and craft teacher in 4 H clubs and for homeschoolers

1993 – 1995
Full-time arts and art history teacher at Shining Mountain Waldorf High School

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

2007, 2008
Art Studio Instructor and lecturer

2010
Marymount Manhattan College Faculty Art Show

Work & Exhibits

My Work & Exhibits

St. Mary’s Hospital – Psychiatric Tech and Nurse

Street Artist, Studio Photographer, Lab Technician

Solo exhibit at Friend’s Art Center of highly intricate collage and calligraphy paintings based on art history Asian and Western

Open Studios

Teach English and make photography and collage books

Hewitt Gallery of Art

Solo exhibit – Abstract Mixed Media acrylic and fabric wall constructions based on Japanese Obi designs

Group exhibit – Large realistic oil paintings based on Nepalese life

Group Faculty Exhibit – Multi panel installation of realistic acrylic paintings

Visiting lecturer in art department and a fine art studio mentor at Marymount Manhattan College

Institute for Contemporary Art, MFA graduate group exhibit of realistic drawings, abstract stone and wood sculptures

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMCA) – 2 times group show. Large multi glazed watercolors (Veil Painting)
Artist Studio in The Lofts
Open Studios 3 times, juried shows
Solo exhibit at The Cafe, Watercolor and Acrylic multi cultural and calligraphy paintings.
Teach Waldorf primary and high school art and art history
Commission of large paintings for conference room of Boulder Associate Architects
Acrylic paintings of floor plans of ancient architecture and design

Space Gallery, group exhibit, Watercolors and Acrylic multi cultural patterns and calligraphy

Eugene Symphony

6 watercolor paintings to music for their Facebook Page, the Color of Sound

Currently working out my studio in Oakmont. Although visually impaired, I continue to work with an emphasis on tactile art and the inclusion of populations with disabilities.

I continue teaching meditation at the Center for People with Disabilities in Boulder, Colorado and private national groups.

Education

My Education

U.C. Berkeley, Greater Good Science Center and MMTCP (Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certificate Program)
San Francisco, California
2018 – 2020

Rudolf Steiner College
San Francisco, California
San Francisco and Sacramento
1990 – 1993

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1984 – 1986

Private study – Mrs. Lou, and Anzai Sensei, Henry Li
San Francisco, California
1984 – 1990

Japanese Language at Ropongi Institute
Tokyo, Japan
1979 – 1982

Marymount Manhattan College
New York, New York
1977 – 1979

San Francisco City College
San Francisco, California
1974 – 1972

St. Luke’s Hospital and San Francisco City College
San Francisco, California
1970 – 1972

Education

My Education

San Francisco City College and St. Luke’s Hospital Nursing School – Nursing and Licensed Psychiatric Technician

San Francisco City College – AA in Photography

Marymount Manhattan College in New York City – BA with honors in Fine Arts

Studied in Japan and San Francisco – traditional Asian painting and calligraphy for total of 7 years. Also 4 years of Japanese, reading, speaking and writing. Also studied traditional screen painting and black ink paintings on paper and silk.

University of Pennsylvania – MFA in sculpture

Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, California – Teacher Certificate in Waldorf education and teaching

UC Berkeley Center for the Greater Good and Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program – certified as an Insight Meditation teacher and Trauma informed Teacher

Grateful to mentors who have furthered my education and professional growth –
Hallie Cohen, Yamanaka Sensei, Alok Hsu Kwang-Han, Mrs. Lou, Rev. Peter Chen, Nicholas Wilton, Miguel Mayher and the Lighthouse SF, Adaptive Technology, and Earl Baum Center teachers

Collectors

My Collectors

Illinois – Laura Conte

California – Mrs. Fannie Chong, Carol Chen, Belinda Zen, Barbara Sycip, Francesco Lecce-Chong and Chloe Tula

Colorado – Yani Ortega, Kris King, Mary Jungerman and Boulder Associates Architects

Pennsylvania – Jean Grey and Mark Batman, and Anonymous.

New York – Jean Rather and Anonymous

The Isolation Icons

White Blindness

Knives & Blades

San Francisco Bay Wisdom Log