Chris Pero
Portland, OR
Portland artist and MS advocate, inspiring creativity and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to embrace art and live well.
Message
Chris's artistry delves deep into the elemental force of nature and the aquatic world. Proficient in glass blowing, printmaking, photography, and painting, she reveals her vibrant inner world of nature through various mediums. Each painting is a harmonious interplay of color and texture—a dance where each layer unfurls its own significance, adding an enchanting touch to her creations.
Nurtured by summers on the shores of Lake Erie, water's influence has been a guiding force in Chris's life, steering her toward a BAFA specializing in non-silver photography from the University of New Mexico. Her exploration into glass and printmaking was born from a lifelong pursuit of capturing the essence—the textures, forms, colors, and fluidity—of nature.
Chris embodies resilience, living vibrantly with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Through her art, she seeks to inspire others, encouraging the daily commitment to living life to the fullest despite challenges. Her contributions include sharing her art to benefit the National MS Society, Bike MS, and the Blanchet House Shelter.
As the president and owner of Perodesign, a commercial art consultancy, Chris has brought her creative vision to professional realms. Now calling Portland, Oregon, home, the tranquil embrace of water continues to fuel and shape her artistic odyssey.
Statement
Hi, my name is Chris Pero, living in Portland, Oregon. I follow intuition as I build layered compositions, exploring texture, rhythm, and energy through elements gathered from the natural world.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, and art has become both refuge from MS and my resistance to MS. Creating art allows me to stay on the sunny side of life. Yes, I get tired—but don’t we all? In the studio, fatigue gives way to movement, focus, and joy.
Color is my language. I use my camera to collect moments, textures, and color relationships from everyday life. When I return to the studio, I turn up the music and let what I’ve seen and heard guide me. My process is physical, immersive, and deeply affirming—an ongoing act of presence, resilience, and love.