Restoring Beauty: My Mission as an Artist
My mission as an artist and in life is simple:
To restore the standard of beauty in the world.
Beauty in the arts, yes, but also beauty in culture, society and the the human spirit.
I believe beauty matters now more than ever.
To me, beauty is more than decoration or aesthetics. It is more than pretty pictures. Beauty is alignment with goodness, purity, and the divine.
It is an awareness of and connection to God. It is the human spirt aligning with harmony and the natural order of the universe.
In our modern world, beauty is often dismissed or devalued. Much of our culture rewards chaos and ugliness. We not only see this in ugly art, architecture, dress and music, but ugly behavior and values.
Restoring the standard and appreciation of beauty is not a hobby, it is a duty.
And it is needed now more than ever.
That is my mission.
The Vehicle and Tradition I Serve
I am an artist. Drawing and painting are my tools.
The tradition I practice is 19th-century Western academic realism—a method refined in France and carried throughout Europe and America. It is built on discipline, craftsmanship, rigor and mastery of self.
This tradition represents the highest achievements in visual art. It has produced some of the greatest works of beauty in human history.
One of its most brilliant qualities is that it is teachable. It is structured, logical and can be passed on.
When properly trained, students do not merely learn to make pictures, they learn to see.They learn about themselves and the world around them. They learn standards. They learn excellence.
That is why I am proud to practice this tradition, and committed to passing it on to the next generation.
Why Asia?
Landscape painting in Lumpinee Park, Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 2025.
I was born in the Philippines and raised in America. I carry both worlds in me.
America gave me access to world-class artistic training. But there is a young artist somewhere in Southeast Asia who may never have that opportunity.
I want to build a place for that student.
Asia is rising. Thailand in particular stands at the crossroads of East and West. As culture and prosperity grow, so will the desire for serious art, education, and institutions. So I believe that the timing is right to build something great - something that will last and flourish for generations.
How This Vision Was Born
“Self-portrait”. Sep. 9th, 2023. The first drawing I did when I finally regained the ability to sit upright in a chair.
To be honest, I never set out to build something this ambitious.
A few years ago, I was seriously injured. For almost three months I could not walk. I couldn’t even sit upright to draw.
The most basic tasks were a painful struggle.
Night after night, alone and in pain, I came face to face with something I had always known intellectually but had never truly felt - my mortality.
For the first time in my life I felt and knew the cold, hard reality that…one day…my life will end.
So, in this forced time of rest, I reflected deeply - on my work, my time in Asia, my faith, and what is the meaning of my life.
In those long, painful nights, something shifted. I received what I can only describe as a message from God.
The core of the message was:
You must build something greater than yourself.
Not to make another painting, drawing or exhibition. Not to get another cool illustration project. Not to make more money or become “rich”. Instead, do something that would outlive me.
When I recovered enough to draw and work again, the next chapter of my life became clear.
The vision had been born. What began in suffering became a calling, and that calling became a plan.
The Vision
Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida, USA
The long-term vision is ambitious but clear:
To build the first true Western Classical Art and Cultural Center in Asia.
It will stand on three pillars:
1. A Great Academy
A rigorous training center for academic drawing and painting, including:
Structured, multi-level programs
Visiting master artists
Annual artist retreats
2. A Museum & Gallery
A place where people can experience the highest level of Western realist art—without traveling to Europe or America.
3. A Thriving Art Community
Galleries. Collectors. Craftsmen. Businesses and venues that value and display fine art.
A cultural ecosystem that nurtures the arts, and cultivates and rewards refined taste and aesthetics.
The Model
Sculpture garden and courtyard at the Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida, USA
The institution that inspires me is the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (Florida, U.S.A.)
It is a world-class museum and art school set in a tropical coastal environment—proof that serious art and natural beauty can coexist.
My vision is similar in spirit, but built in Thailand.
The Roadmap (10 Years)
I am committing ten years to fulfill this mission.
The roadmap unfolds in phases:
Phase 1: Establish weekly academic life drawing in Bangkok. (Completed)
Phase 2: Establish weekly oil painting with live models. (Underway)
Phase 3: Launch structured 10-week atelier-style courses.
Phase 4: Build a full-time academy with residency programs.
Phase 5: Host exhibitions, international workshops, and regional expansion.
As I write this, I am in Year 2. Weekly life drawing is thriving. We hosted our first internationally renowned master artist last year, with more to come.
The foundation is set. This is no longer just an idea. It is a vision unfolding in real time.
Where We Are Now
I moved to Bangkok in November 2024 to begin building this sanctuary.
Today:
Weekly life drawing is established.
Weekly painting is expanding.
International master workshops have begun.
The local community is growing.
Step by step and brick by brick.
How You Can Be Part of This
Great cultural movements are never built alone.
Throughout history, artists have depended on patrons, collectors, and supporters who believed in something larger than themselves.
If this mission speaks to you, there are three ways to participate:
1. Follow & Share
Help us grow awareness. Culture spreads through people. Follow me on Instagram. Share the work and our story if it speaks to you.
https://www.instagram.com/chrislegaspi.fineart/
2. Collect Original Work
When you collect a piece, you are not simply purchasing art, you are investing in a craftsman committed to lifelong excellence. Each work is handmade, museum-quality, and directly supports this greater vision.
Click here to view available originals…
3. Join Me in Thailand
Attend an upcoming Realism in Paradise retreat. This is a unique opportunity that combines rigorous academic training with all the rich cultural and natural beauty of Thailand.
Come see first hand why Thailand is the #1 tourist destination in the world, and support the foundation being built here.
Enter your name and information below to join the Thailand Artist Retreat early reserve list…
Museum of Contemporary Art (European realism collection), February 2025, Bangkok
Whether we ever meet or not, thank you for reading.
This work is larger than any single artist. It is about building something that will uplift the human spirit for generations.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to stand with me.