Artist Statement

What is “Beyond the Wall”? This question has given me a great deal of pause. How can I share what is truly beyond the wall? Are the holds expressive enough? Shall I add more objects? A trophy perhaps! A shiny beacon of hope signifying the top of the wall, “congratulations, you’ve made it” *the crowd cheers*. Maybe something unexpected like a pencil or a rubber duck? Art is up to the viewers interpretation after all.

Then 2020 happened, to all of us, which brought upon a lot of self reflection. During this time I was fortunate enough to find what I like to call my, “The Alchemist” moment or “Aha” moment, if you will. So I returned home, came full circle, back to where I had started. Literally, for like 3 months straight. So here it is, I realized I am already painting what is beyond the wall. My paintings are not an interpretation of a rock climbing wall. My paintings are an interpretation of LIFE. Of all of life’s colors. Of all of life’s twists, turns, failures, falls, climbs, adventures, escapes, joys, hates, loves…and fears. My paintings tell a story about the journey of life, mine and yours. I’m just figuring out how to express it every way I can.

The Artist

Cassandra Locke is a Seattle based painter born in Kailua, Hawaii and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She shares her energy between full-time artistry on skin and canvas. She has a passion for painting, an Aloha spirit, and an untamed curiosity for life.

Graduating from Western Washington University in 2011, Cassandra acquired her Bachelor’s in Fine Art with a dual minor in Art History and Psychology. She furthered her education in 2017 at the Esthetics Northwest Institute of Bellevue, where she practiced the application of art on the human canvas. She continues to challenge herself not only artistically but physically and through continued academia. 

Cassandra’s art can be found in private collections around Washington State, Oregon and California as well as donated work to the Seattle Aquarium’s Adult Swim Foundation. A selection of her pieces are available for rent through the Ryan James Fine Arts Gallery.