Artist Spotlight:

"Evie is an 11 year-old multi-media artist who is inspired by the stories and world around her. She is passionate about art and hopes others feel inspired."

"I like to paint and sing, and watch anime."

"Leo and Meara enjoy creating and doing activities together, including reading books, playing basketball, watching movies, and baking. Their artwork is a collaborative effort to create portraits that celebrate the similarities and differences between friends."

"Meara and Leo enjoy creating and doing activities together. Their artwork was a collaborative effort to create portraits that celebrate similarities and differences between friends."

"After receiving an associate’s of fine arts at PCC, Daniel received a scholarship to The Museum Art School where he earned a bachelors of fine arts in painting. Comic books with antidotes are a common thread in Daniel’s art. He was originally inspired by Jack Kirby of marvel comics. As an artist Daniel has mastered independent art. He is always prepared carrying a backpack filled with art and interesting stories he’s typed up on his manual typewriter. The Imprisoned Mermaid was inspired by an animated movie called “I Was A Teenage Kraken”. Jacquis in the Sky with Diamonds is a depiction of Daniel's niece covered in glitter getting ready to fly."

"Evan (he/him) is currently taking classes at PHAME. In his free time, he reads voraciously, writes poetry and plays, and keeps bees in his backyard. Evan loves abstract art and is proud to submit his work for this art show."

"My name is Annette and I like seeing my friends, that makes me happy."

"I am Jason. I like looking at books and being with my friends."

"I'm Ryan and I'm very happy. I like painting and doing art. My favorite colors are pink and purple. I feel good and I'm healthy."

"My name is Joseph. I do puzzles and word searches. Aqua is my favorite color."

"My name is Margaret and I am a nice person. I collect stuff from Disneyland. Minnie Mouse is my favorite."

"I was born in Astoria. I like painting very much and enjoy cooking fish."

"I grew up in Portland, I went to school in Portland, and that's when I got into art. Art calms me down and I enjoy doing it. I am interested in dots because of a past certificate I received. I am into geography."

"I am passionate about art and take inspiration from nature. I want my art to connect with others. I have been an artist all my life. I enjoy drawing and painting best."

"Born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ricky is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes—the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation. In 1970, Ricky moved to Salem, Oregon, and in 1988 he relocated to Portland, where he developed his creative practice at different progressive studio programs including Port City, Project Grow, Art From the Heart, Public Annex, and PALS. Over the years, Ricky has become notorious for making vibrant, expressive weavings full of rainbow pony beads and found and scrounged materials. Working on the loom, Ricky commands the cohesive power of warp and weft, drawing color, texture, juxtaposition, language, and chance encounters together creating unique gravitational fields. An active drawer as well, Ricky’s 2D artworks evolve alongside his weavings, often featuring language that proceeds from left to right like skeins of meaning. It’s no surprise that Ricky likes to do word search puzzles in between weavings." 

"Throughout school I was in AP art classes. After my brain injury, I had to relearn how to use my left hand, but I still went back to my classes and to my drawing and painting activities. I was even asked to pain for a skatepark that I helped get signatures to build in Victorville, CA. Art has always been a strong point in my life."

"I am Marlow and I like turtles, D&D, and my friends. I am a good storyteller. I am going to middle school next year."

"My name is Peter. I live in a group home and I work for Kaiser. I play in Special Olympics."

"Hi, I'm Jackie. I'm 30 years old. Art inspires me to express myself and helps me to understand there is beauty in all things. Art is just a form of turning the objects into a masterpiece and to make it have a purpose in life."

"Art makes me feel good. I like to draw cool things by myself."

"Longtime artist, first time putting it on display. I love using colored pencils while listening to music."

"I like working with paper to sculpt jewelry and objects from nature. Colored pencils are my favorite medium. I like drawing landscapes. I have had my art in the Portland Art Museum."

"I am a creative and skilled knitter, passionate about crafting high-quality pieces such as hats, blankets, shawls, and scarves of different sizes and colors. I am always willing to help others who are in need or help and share my knowledge."

"Jesse likes to draw with color markers. He especially likes holiday themes. Jesse also enjoys building LEGO structures."

"My name is Gabriel. My art is all spur of the moment. Nothing is ever planned."

"My name is Zander and I am 13 years old. I like frogs, drawing and history."

My name is Carrie M. Throughout my life I’ve lived with Epilepsy, which has put many strains on my life presenting itself in different ways. Despite the many challenges I have faced through my disability, it did not put strain on my artistic ability. Most recently I underwent brain surgery, in addition to other surgeries prior to this to help me with my Epilepsy. I am now mostly free from having seizures. I have done many different types of art that I taught myself how to do. Some of the art that I’ve made, I sold at Saturday Market for several years. After that I continued learning, and teaching myself new styles of art, progressing more and more with ongoing inspiration. It brings me great joy to share my love for art with the world, and to inspire others as I do this. My message to you is that no matter what challenges you have faced, having disabilities or not, anything is possible.

"My name is Jeff. I am a person who journeyed through the adoption and foster care systems and later experienced homelessness. Through all those things, I never really had the opportunity to feel like I had ever really been a part of anything due to feelings of abandonment. I had been what they call, a “lone wolf.” I had tried to fit in many areas but essentially still felt like an outcast. I had tried to mask pain and sorrow with mind altering substances only to feel empty still.

I decided to get clean, give back to the community and start my journey in social services, working with those who experienced homelessness, battled addiction, and faced all of those things. This thinking landed me in this department (Multnomah County IDD), where I get to work with kids who face the very things I had to face growing up; Hoping to offer a bit of hope for those struggling with being a part of something. 

My piece is called "Finding the Beauty in the Pieces." We can all feel a little broken inside when we have life show up in ways that leave us with questions. I would like to think that though there are pieces of me everywhere, someone will benefit by being inspired, or finding hope because I was able to show them the pieces that I lost. Though I will never gain those pieces back, that doesn't mean that I can't serve a purpose in life. I do have a purpose! I don't know what it is yet but I will keep moving forward as if I know exactly what it is. Offering kindness and empathy is the first step in that."