Alchemical Arts
Architectural Surfaces in Encaustic & Mixed Media
Alchemical Arts reflects both where I come from and what I create today. My work begins with materials that are part of everyday environments — plaster, wax, and natural elements — shaped by heat, touch, and time. Through building, dissolving, and refining, these raw substances transform into artwork that holds memory, presence, and connection. That transformation is the alchemy at the center of my practice.
I grew up around plasterers, where craftsmanship, durability, and the feel of physical surfaces were everyday knowledge. Later, my work in architectural design and decorative wall finishes gave me a deep respect for how surfaces are built and how they respond to change. In the studio, I bring those foundations together with experimentation, letting each piece evolve through intuition and discovery.
I’m drawn to the small moments that stay with us — a shift in light, an interesting texture, a place we remember without needing a photo. Through encaustic and mixed media, I translate these observations into tactile, contemporary abstractions that encourage close looking and quiet reflection.
Alchemical Arts is my way of honoring how materials change — and how those shifts can offer viewers a moment of recognition, presence, or connection.
About Teri
“Every material has a memory. My work is about revealing what surfaces want to say—through layers, light, and time.”
Teri Pastorino is a contemporary visual artist working in encaustic, cold wax, plaster, photography, and mixed media. Her work explores the connection between material, memory, and the built and natural environments. She creates abstract surfaces with depth and detail, inviting viewers to slow down, look closely, and discover subtle shifts in light and texture over time.
Her work develops through repeated cycles of applying, carving, and fusing — integrating photographic imagery and natural materials as extensions of place. Each surface becomes a visible record of decision-making, process, and craft.
Inspiration comes from close observation of everyday environments. Forms and interactions found in nature, built spaces, and lived experience are distilled into visual elements that are abstract yet grounded in recognizable patterns or rhythms. Rather than portraying a specific scene, her work draws from what we notice or remember — the details and structures we carry with us.
In 2025, Pastorino completed a 100-day exploration of wax and plaster processes, marking a shift toward a full-time studio practice and continued focus on material-driven abstraction.
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