Zen Cat 2025 Wall Calendar: Paintings and Poetry by Nicholas Kirsten-Honshin

A fusion of East and West, the work of Nicholas Kirsten-Honshin draws from his experience with ancient Eastern spiritual practices and the philosophies of Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and ancient Mesoamerican cultures. Painting, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, and poetry are the tools he uses to communicate the unity of consciousness and life throughout the universe. He views his internationally acclaimed art as a mirror that reflects the true beauty and healing connectedness of all cultures.

Honshin is influenced by the famed Pacific Northwest School of Visionary Art, which included his father, Daiensai Kuden Bonseki Dojin, a renowned artist and ordained Buddhist priest. The legacy of his father’s influence is also reflected in his artist name, Honshin Kaigen. In the Japanese Zen tradition, artists who have achieved their own individual expression are honored with a name that reflects what their teachers see in their work. Honshin means ＂the original mind is the heart＂; Kaigen refers to the opening of the spiritual eyes and the transmission of visions through creativity.

Honshin collaborated on a series of calendars, datebooks, journals, and note cards featuring the artist’s work paired with the poetry and teachings of renowned Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. These products inspired and guided people around the world to practice the principles of compassion, love, and kindness and the joy of living in the present moment.

Honshin lives in Sedona, Arizona, with his wife and business partner, Krystal. They have two galleries in Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village: Honshin Fine Art Gallery of Wholeness, Harmony and Radiance and Honshin Fine Art Gallery.