My name is Chad Glazener (he/him) and I’m an abstract artist and writer in Portland, OR.

My creative journey as a painter began when I encountered abstract art as an adult and experienced a deep, wordless connection. Standing before the works of Franz Kline, Joan Mitchell, Mark Rothko, and Cy Twombly, I saw and felt something vital. These works hummed with an energy that I can best describe as pure presence. The paintings commanded my attention and led me into interior silence.

In my work, I explore the expressive power of gesture as an icon of the present moment. From our earliest human ancestors to contemporary abstraction, gesture is the way we articulate when words are not enough. I am captivated by the ways marks connect our hearts across eons.

My creative practice is informed by my theatrical training in “Viewpoints”—a postmodern method of acting that emphasizes units of time and space. I fuse this embodied practice with my endless exploration of mysticism, contemplation, and enduring wisdom. The result is dynamic abstract art that invites viewers to descend into the shifting contours of their inner world.

In addition to my painting practice, I work as a freelance grant writer to help non-profits get the resources they need. By connecting good folks to each other, we can strengthen the ecosystem of human kindness.

If you or someone you know needs help navigating the grant process, visit my consultant website.

Photos of the artist courtesy of Mark Pratt-Russum