Christian Riese Lassen (American, born 1949) is Hawaii’s premier marine artist. Using acrylics, enamels and oils, Lassen’s paintings depict a vibrant, idealized vision of the natural world. In his childhood, Lassen’s family moved to the Hawaiian island of Maui where he was first captivated by the ocean. Since then it has always been a significant part of his life, inspiring him to become both a world-class surfer and a leading environmental artist of international popularity.

Lassen aims to paint both to elucidate the mysterious splendor of the waters and to expose The risks to marine life that we inflict. His paintings and sculptures are displayed in galleries across the United States and Japan. In 1998, Lassen debuted a traveling exhibition: a collection of over 85 of the artists original works, on loan from owners around the world. Since then, the paintings have toured more than 26 cities in the US and Japan. Lassen broadcasts a weekly television show in Japan, where fans can learn more about his work. He is an extensively licensed artist, with more than 70 licensees worldwide who use his images for an eclectic array of merchandise.

Lassen is involved with several other creative projects linked to his invoronmenal cocern. He has released a debut album "The Trun of the Tide', which launches a musical approach to his marine life preservation theme. He has also starred in a feature-length film with a strong environmental message, entitled "I Am The Earth". Lassen is published in several pictorial books, including "The Art of Lassen" and hasinspired a bookfor children called "Treasures of the Sea".