Jessie Weitzel Le Grand
Jessie Weitzel Le Grand crafts sculptural objects from imagined alternate realities, offering glimpses into dimensions with their own rules and logic. Her work, recently exhibited internationally, explores the idea of communication between these worlds and our own. Through playful yet mysterious forms, she invites viewers to engage with the unknown. Read more about her process and inspirations in our latest feature.
Matt diLeo
Matt diLeo’s paintings are deeply personal, layered with symbols from his past, present, and future dreams. Influenced by film, music, and his Italian heritage, diLeo uses his work to process life’s experiences with raw emotion and authenticity. His pieces invite viewers to step closer, uncover hidden narratives, and feel the pulse of his world. Read more about his journey, inspirations, and creative process in our latest feature.
Sommer Roman
Sommer Roman’s art draws us back to our wild, interconnected selves through an exploration of plant, animal, and human forms. Using mundane materials like post-consumer clothing and natural items, Roman creates work that dismantles disconnectedness and embraces the wild feminine. Read more about her recent exhibitions and how her art merges surrealism, craft, and feminism.
Peggy Schutze Shearn
Peggy Shearn’s self-taught journey through various artistic disciplines, from graphic design to printmaking, culminates in her dream-inspired paintings. Her work reflects an ongoing exploration of narrative and the surreal nature of dreams. As a co-founder of a not-for-profit gallery, she continues to impact the Chicago art scene with her unique vision.
Elizabeth Arzani
Elizabeth Arzani, an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Portland, OR, brings a unique perspective to contemporary art through her dynamic use of materials and thoughtful narratives. With exhibitions across the U.S. and internationally, Arzani's work reflects her dedication to exploring the intersections of painting, education, and cultural dialogue. As a member of Carnation Contemporary and recipient of several prestigious grants, Arzani’s art continues to evolve and engage audiences across diverse platforms. Learn more about her creative journey and recent projects in this feature.
Maria Blokhina
Maria Blokhina's Sadaveena collection is a stunning fusion of art and sustainability, featuring handmade fabric plants crafted from discarded textiles. With a focus on eco-conscious design and upcycling, Blokhina's work challenges us to reconsider our relationship with waste and embrace the potential for transformation in everyday materials. Explore how her art not only creates beauty but also fosters a deeper connection to the environment.
Patty Carrol
In her ongoing series Anonymous Women: Domestic Demise, Patty Carroll examines the complexities of a woman's identity within the confines of domestic life. With playful yet poignant staged scenes, Carroll uses color, humor, and symbolism to explore how women are both invisible and essential to the home. Through these striking images, she highlights the often-overlooked lives of women and the intersection of consumer culture and gender roles.
Kyle Lee
Kyle Lee’s work offers a reflective take on life’s small yet significant moments. With a background in painting and contemporary art, Lee invites viewers to explore how everyday events often hold more weight than we realize. In this feature, we dive into his artistic journey and the philosophy behind his minimalist style, which highlights the value of the fleeting, the mundane, and the "forgettable" moments.
Yuya Saito
Yuya Saito’s art is a reflection of the ever-changing cityscape—where chaos, movement, and fleeting moments converge. Inspired by his roots in skateboarding and street culture, Saito utilizes curved shapes and traditional bentwood techniques to create abstract representations of urban life. His work interweaves architectural structures and city materials, offering a fresh perspective that transcends conventional art history and street culture narratives.
Sasja Hagens
For over 25 years, Sasja Hagens has created dynamic, colorful paintings and sculptures inspired by her deep-rooted maritime heritage. Influenced by her family's naval background and a passion for adventure, her work captures the energy of harbors, the movement of ships, and the limitless possibilities of the sea. From large-scale solo exhibitions to museum collections worldwide, Hagens’ work invites viewers to embark on a visual journey across waves of color and emotion.
Nick A. Erickson
Nick A. Erickson, a pop artist inspired by the aesthetics of retro Americana, invites viewers to indulge their senses with his vibrant, mouthwatering paintings of desserts. With a career spanning animation, illustration, and design, Erickson's artwork blends nostalgia and sweet realism, capturing the texture of cake, frosting, and cherries in a neon-colored palette. In this post, we delve into the artist's journey and creative process, offering a closer look at how his passion for visual storytelling and nostalgia comes to life on the canvas.
Jayes Caitlin
Portland-based artist Jayes Caitlin brings her graphic arts practice to life with minimalist works that combine systematic approaches with chance elements. With an extensive background in design, Caitlin’s abstract art spans archival editions, paintings, and silk-screened concert posters, all contributing to her vision of abstraction’s role in contemporary visual culture. Explore her journey from Chicago and Los Angeles back to Portland, where she is opening a new RISO Studio Arts location.
Robin Kerr
Self-taught artist Robin Kerr blends multifaceted elements of culture, history, and personal identity in her abstract work. Drawing inspiration from the nuances of living between places, Kerr’s art explores themes of belonging and perception, creating thought-provoking pieces that challenge and celebrate humanity's diverse expressions.
Jeff Sheridan
Jeff Sheridan’s work exists in the space between dreams and reality. Drawing from hypnagogic states—the threshold between wakefulness and sleep—his abstract paintings transform subconscious imagery into intricate, otherworldly compositions. Influenced by psychology, the occult, and the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, Sheridan uses layered washes, stippling, and detailed brushwork to create striking monochromatic scenes. Explore his multidisciplinary practice and the unique creative process behind his thought-provoking work.
Kelly Tsai
Kelly Tsai’s SKyGiRLS is a striking portrait series that explores the complexities of identity, representation, and the Chinese diaspora. Through carefully constructed persona diptychs, Tsai embodies women whose stories have been overlooked or misrepresented, creating a powerful dialogue between history, mythology, and personal identity. Inspired by the surge in anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, SKyGiRLS is both a personal exploration and a collective reimagining of Chinese womanhood.
Bella Cardim
Bella Cardim’s powerful artwork merges personal experience and conceptual inquiry, addressing themes of food, identity, and emotional nourishment. Using mixed media, textiles, and photography, Cardim’s work invites reflection on the cultural norms surrounding body image and the emotional facets of eating disorders. In this post, we explore her practice and recent exhibitions, including her upcoming residency focused on emotional nourishment and societal expectations.
Nicole Williford
Nicole Williford’s representational paintings invite viewers into a world where family stories are transformed into visual myths. Inspired by archival photos and shaped by her own imagination. Nicole’s work blends personal and found photographs with oral history and imagination, creating surreal, layered paintings that explore the myth-making of family life.
Jordan Clark
Jordan Clark’s multidisciplinary practice blends painting, photography, and design, drawing inspiration from the textures and structures of urban environments. His layered compositions reflect his experiences with architecture, graffiti removal, public transit, and digital mapping. Through a process of masking, revealing, and responding to materials, Clark constructs abstracted spaces that bridge physical and digital realms. Read more about his influences and artistic journey.
Brigid Kennedy
Brigid Kennedy’s work bridges the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, capturing the interplay of architecture, nature, and light through abstracted representation. Her ongoing series, inspired by direct observation, reflects on the significance of windows as portals to both the outside world and the self. With a career spanning numerous exhibitions and prestigious grants, Kennedy continues to create paintings that invite exploration and contemplation.
Chris Lael Larson
Chris Lael Larson’s work blurs the boundaries between photography, painting, and installation, creating layered, immersive experiences. Using a mix of hyperreal lighting, bold color, and unconventional materials, his pieces reimagine perspective and depth, offering a fresh take on contemporary visual storytelling.