Elise Wagner
Elise Wagner is a painter, printmaker, educator, and innovator based in Astoria, Oregon. Despite a serious car accident as a teenager that ended her dream of becoming a professional dancer, Wagner’s survival became an enduring source of inspiration for her art. Her creative journey has evolved into a fusion of artistic expression, spiritual exploration, and a profound interest in various scientific disciplines. Throughout her studies of Science and Art History at Portland State University, Wagner developed a passion for color chemistry while working at the Gamblin Artist's Colors factory. During her college years, Wagner also discovered the under-explored medium of encaustic painting.
Known for her artistic contributions in wax collagraph printmaking, Wagner has received distinguished accolades, including the prestigious 2015-16 Pollock Krasner Foundation Award, several regional awards, and grants from esteemed institutions such as the Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Arts Commission, and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
In 2003, she launched Wagner Encaustics, her boutique line of encaustic paints, while simultaneously pioneering wax collagraph printmaking--- a blend of encaustic painting techniques with those of intaglio printmaking. Wagner developed a new type of wax into which she etches or embosses with textiles. Her Wagner Collagraph Wax, which also facilitates an easier release from the paper support, was industry-approved (AP) by the Arts and Crafts Materials Institute (ACMI) for distribution. She has presented this process at the SGC International Conference and the International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown.
During the summer of 2025, Wagner traveled to London and Italy to teach her wax collagraph method, including a stint in Verona, Italy where she taught encaustic painting at Dolci Colori, a 115-year-old family-run color factory.
Artist Statement
As a lifelong creator, I have often felt as though I am a vessel combining different art materials to navigate my interpretation of the human experience. Making art has always been essential for as long as I continue to have something to say and feel compelled to create. My work attempts to abstractly synthesize my observations in nature and science and distill it into some form of beauty as a reflection of our rapidly evolving contemporary world.
Motivation for my work often stems from or coincides with contemporary scientific discoveries in astronomy, physics, meteorology and climate science. My most recent work is inspired by the human impact that is causing global warming and the ice shelves to recede.
Art has the power to transcend and express a deep and profound understanding of society, nature, technology, culture, science, the climate and geo-politics. My hope with my work is to elevate our awareness of the growing and critical crisis of climate change that our world faces.