Paul Heussenstamm (American, b. 1949) 
Tapestry Mandala

Paul Heussenstamm’s vibrant sacred art incorporates principles of many religious traditions, among them Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Heussenstamm grew up in a highly creative, spiritual environment that helped form the pattern of his life and work. His signature motif is the mandala, a mystic symbol that for him, “has opened the doorway into the symbolic language of the soul.” Mandalas, which are typically circular and geometric in form, often represent wholeness or unified energy. Mandalas have played a role in Eastern spiritual development for centuries and are widely favored as meditational focal points because of their balancing and calming effects.