Tell ____ ‘hi’ from me: the work of self-taught, neurodivergent artists who live and create in Oregon

September 5 – October 26, 2025 | Galería A.N. Bush

Reception: Friday, September 5, 5:30-7:30 pm

Welcome & Introductions, 6:00 pm

 tell ___ ‘hi’ from me showcases the work of 27 self-taught, neurodivergent artists who live and create in Oregon and are members of the Portland-based Progressive Art Studio, North Pole Studio. North Pole Studio is embedded in a nationwide movement of autonomous and unique Progressive Art Studios who provide accessible studio space for disabled, neurodivergent and autistic artists. Emerging in response to Oregon’s history of institutionalization and ongoing ableist systems, and standing in direct opposition to the current political climate, North Pole Studio pursues a paradigm shift. A shift that values self-determination above all else. A shift that recognizes diversity as human brilliance, and invites us to expand how we think about storytelling and what it means to live in true community with one another. 

This diverse collection of contemporary 2D and 3D works reflects honest creative expression and raw innovation. It honors the vitality of lifelong creative practice and reimagines conventions in artmaking. The exhibit will travel across the region throughout 2025 and 2026, amplifying the voices of artists whose perspectives have long been marginalized. It invites the viewer to deepen their understanding of the Progressive Art Studio movement and artists working within it, both regionally and nationally. tell ___ ‘hi’ from me offers a warm greeting and a long overdue introduction. It speaks to presence, persistence, and belonging: ‘we’ve always been here, won’t you get to know us?’ … ‘it’s time you get to know us’.

Exhibiting Artists

1. Aaron Cunningham

Aaron Cunningham (b. 1986) approaches his work through a deliberate and thoughtful process. Each project begins with an extended planning phase, starting from a central subject either historical or imagined and evolving into a complex narrative that often balances dark themes with a sense of humor. Cunningham is detail-oriented and highly organized, qualities that shape his multidisciplinary practice. In addition to drawing and painting, he works as a writer, storyteller, fiber artist, and musician. Across all mediums, his work reflects a consistent commitment to craft, structure, and narrative depth.

Aaron’s most recent project is in book form, The Amazing Adventures of Buttwole Man, and has been nearly a year in development. This graphic novel combines intricately patterned illustrations with a surreal, elastic narrative. It follows a lone man navigating a world of humorously exaggerated, rump-like challenges, blending visual richness with absurdist storytelling. The Amazing Adventures of Buttwole Man will be published by Portland-based World Egg Press, coming 2026.

2. Adam Richards 

Adam Richards (b. 1973) is an introspective artist whose creative practice blossomed in his late 40s, following his first exposure to a progressive studio space. His work is characterized by a meticulous attention to detail and a deep, personal connection to the symbols and shapes he uses. Working primarily with delicate drawing tools like graphite pencils and black ballpoint pens, Richards creates large-scale drawings on white paper, each piece woven from an intricate web of tiny, meticulously crafted symbols. These symbols, while largely abstract and personal, hold significant meaning to the artist, representing a language that is uniquely his own. Richards’ drawings often feature recurring motifs that carry deep personal significance. Objects such as a pin, baseball, sun, vehicles, and portraits of loved ones, along with his trusty “pooh bear” can all be found nestled within the complex web of shapes, characters, and numbers that comprise each piece. These motifs act as visual anchors, grounding his work in familiar, sentimental elements, while the web of repeating symbols adds layers of mystery and introspection. In his more recent work, Richards has embarked on a brave departure from his earlier, purely detailed drawings. Experimenting with sunni ink, gouache, and soft brushes, he has begun to abstract and fortify his symbols, presenting them in bold new forms. This shift reflects his ongoing artistic evolution, as he seeks new ways to express both his personal narrative and the deeper meanings behind his work.

3. Adolph Bastendorff

Adolph Bastendorff (b.1972) is a prolific Portland-based artist. Working across found objects including old doors and wood panels, paper, stretched canvas, paint, wax pastels and collage, Adolph’s collection includes countless series’ of work, each of which expansively and deeply explores a particular theme. His subjects include fashion drawings of men and women, cities and landscapes, the solar system, and everyday people.

Adolph’s work “attempts to speak a universal language in order to reach as many people from around the world as possible” with the intention to use art to unite diverse people and reveal truth, the “truths that all people and all colors share.” Through art, Adolph’s work “teaches the viewer to look within themselves for direction and to develop and trust their intuition”, to find their voice, and in turn, use it to help others

4. Aisha Abioto 

Aisha Abioto (b. 2000 ) was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and has been passionate about art from a very young age. As a child, she filled dozens of journals with detailed bird drawings accompanied by imaginative stories. Primarily a digital artist today, Aisha began her creative journey working with traditional media such as Copic markers, gouache, and watercolors. However, due to challenges with her eyesight, she transitioned to digital art to better realize her vision in a more accessible way. Her style and inspiration are influenced by Manga, Anime, and Disney. Aisha’s work explores themes of fantasy, fan art, and goddess imagery, with a particular focus on how body movement can tell a story. Through her art, she aims to foster connection and community, creating pieces that resonate with others on a personal level.

5. Annie Rose Macer 

Annie Rose Macer (b. 1984) is an indigenous Mayan artist born in Boca del Monte, Guatemala whose work is characterized by a deep passion for pattern-making and a natural affinity for color. Annie Rose began honing her skills in childhood, drawing inspiration from Tibetan influence, creating intricate mandalas. This early exposure to symmetry, repetition, and vibrant hues laid the foundation for her distinct artistic language, which weaves together organic forms with geometric precision. Her art explores subjects that evoke personal joy, including the beauty of nature, organic materials like flowers, animals, landscapes, and a variety of line-based motifs. She merges these elements into visually dynamic compositions that celebrate both the abstract and the representational. Annie Rose’s creative practice spans multiple mediums, including painting, drawing, and cut paper collage. She often repurposes discarded materials, such as paint swatches and painted paper, transforming these humble materials into thoughtful works of art. Her most recognizable pieces are her large-scale “paper quilt” collages, where she meticulously layers hand-cut shapes to abstract significant subjects, imbuing them with new meaning and visual complexity. These works demonstrate her talent for combining tactile processes with bold, striking color palettes, resulting in pieces that are both visually captivating and full of emotional resonance. Through her innovative use of materials and her ability to translate personal joy into visual form, Annie Rose Macer invites viewers into a world where patterns, colors, and organic forms harmonize to reflect both cultural tradition and contemporary artistic exploration.

6. Austin Brague

Austin Brague (b. 1998) a detail-oriented artist who creates work that captures the intricate beauty of urban landscapes and infrastructure across cities in the United States. Working primarily in pen and ink, Brague’s art reflects his fascination with architecture, iconic monuments, and complex transportation systems. His drawings are marked by a rare level of precision, paying close attention to details such as the exact number of windows on a skyscraper or the individual ties of a railroad track. This meticulous approach is paralleled by his careful tracking of the time spent on each piece, further underscoring his commitment to the craft. Brague’s subjects range from public and iconic buildings to cityscapes, industrial machinery, and transportation networks, reflecting the interconnectedness of urban life. His work strikes a balance between photorealism and the warmth of the artist’s hand, giving softness to the otherwise sharp, geometric lines of city structures and mechanical forms. While his subjects are rooted in realism, there is a fluidity in the execution that invites viewers to experience both the precision and the human touch behind each drawing. A key element of Brague’s artistic practice is his experience with a disability, which he credits for fostering an intense focus and discipline in his work. He draws inspiration from artists such as Stephen Wiltshire, whose own mastery of cityscapes has influenced Brague’s approach to capturing the urban environment with such dedication and care. Through his art, Brague invites viewers to reconsider the scale and complexity of modern cities, turning the everyday infrastructure and architecture into a study of form, detail, and rhythm.

7. Christopher Anders

Christopher Anders (b. 1962) is an American artist whose work serves as both refuge and expression, offering a unique fusion of whimsy, introspection, and autobiography. From an early age, art-making became Chris’s sanctuary—a place where he could process his lived experiences and explore the complexities of his inner world. His artistic journey has been shaped by trials, self-determination, and resilience, leading him to develop a visual style that is as explosively psychedelic as it is deeply personal.  Primarily working in drawing media on paper, Anders combines impactful, expressive line work with a rich, vibrant color palette to create densely packed scenes that seem to pulse with energy. Each piece is a blend of memory and imagination, often layered with multiple themes that invite both reflection and discovery. His work touches on subjects as varied as farming, religion, politics, incarceration and music, while also venturing into the realms of fantasy landscapes and the electric interplay of sex and rock and roll.  Anders’s art operates in the space between reality and fantasy, where cultural references, personal history, and bold visual language collide. Through this potent mix of themes and techniques, he creates a dynamic narrative that invites viewers to engage with his journey on a visceral level, offering a glimpse into the colorful, complex world that exists in his mind. His work is a celebration of self-expression, resilience, and the freedom found within art to explore both the human condition and the limitless possibilities of imagination.

8. Connor Barnum

Connor Barnum (b. 2005) is a lifelong, self-taught artist who lives in Lake Oswego. A prolific story-creator and teller, Connor works primarily as an illustrator creating drawings that represent scenes both existing and imagined. He combines characters, both original and from popular media, to develop unique stories which he represents in a distinctive comic book style. Connor is decisive and deliberate about his compositions and mark-making, often drawing a scene only once without drafting. Recently, Connor has been exploring the varied landscapes of Oregon. Connor is excited to continue telling stories as a member of North Pole Studio.

9. Dan Tran

Dan Tran (b.1986) is a multimedia artist who works across origami, drawing, painting, and ink. Dan is known by his family and community for his resilience of spirit, which is reflected in the joyful, color-rich way he captures often heavy and complex subject matter. Through his paintings, Dan interweaves his passions for cooking, flora and fauna, historical events, popular culture, and politics to form a body of work that celebrates global culture and brings awareness to social injustice. References to Vietnam are often woven throughout Dan’s work through an ongoing exploration of personal identity and homage to his culture of origin. Dan’s recent works reflect his concerns about contemporary politics, including the election, war in Ukraine, and more. His well-researched collections capture a wide variety of materials relating to each theme, including cultural icons, everyday citizens, regional and traditional food, and objects and places of significance. Additionally, Dan enjoys still-life painting and life drawing and is affectionately known as a renaissance man.

10. Davis Wohlford 

Davis Wohlford (b. 1999) is a prolific, lifelong artist and the co-founder of North Pole Studio, a Portland-based progressive art studio. As a storyteller, Davis’s work is deeply influenced by the characters, stories, and fables that resonate with him. He brings these narratives to life through a diverse range of mediums, including sculpture, painting, and fiber arts, though he is perhaps most well-known for his vibrant, large-scale mixed media paintings. These works depict a vast array of interconnected characters and fantastical subjects who inhabit North Pole Jr., a self-constructed, multidimensional magical land that Davis has developed over time. His art is a window into this imaginative world, where whimsy and complexity coexist, and every piece is a chapter in an ongoing narrative. Davis’s approach to storytelling is not limited to visual arts. In addition to his work as a painter and sculptor, he is deeply engaged in re-imagining classic books and movies. His interest in narrative extends into playwriting, filmmaking, and animation, where he seeks to reinterpret familiar tales and offer them new perspectives. This multifaceted creative practice reflects Davis’s belief in the power of storytelling as a means of both personal expression and universal connection. Whether through the visual richness of his paintings or the dynamic exploration of narrative in his written and filmed work, Davis Wohlford’s art is a reflection of his boundless imagination and his desire to craft worlds that invite others to explore and find meaning in the stories he creates.

11. Deanna Weisenhaus 

Deanna Wiesenhaus (b. 1999) is a self-taught artist based in Portland, Oregon. Rooted in observation and shaped by emotion, her work draws inspiration from the quiet beauty of the everyday; the architecture of domestic life, places lived and visited, and the local flora and fauna that shape her environment. Her practice is bold yet sensitive, playful yet contemplative. Guided by intuition and a sense of joy, Deanna translates her inner and outer worlds into vibrant abstractions. Repeating forms: silhouettes, structural gestures, and atmospheric spaces, become portals to memory and imagination.  Working primarily with ink, watercolor, and pastel, Deanna builds her compositions layer by layer, often beginning with a rich, black framework before introducing bursts of color. This process reflects both spontaneity and intention, resulting in work that is dynamic, inviting, and emotionally resonant.

12. Doug Wing 

Doug Wing (b. 1955) is a lifelong artist whose creative practice spans across a variety of mediums, with a particular focus on photography and painting. Doug’s work is deeply rooted in his personal experiences, and his studio spaces: both at the Portland-based North Pole Studio and in his home studio in Canby, Oregon,serve as extensions of his artistic expression. The walls of his home studio are adorned with photographs documenting his life, while his collection of paintings fills the space. Even the door to his studio has become an ever-evolving work of art, reflecting the ongoing nature of his creative journey. Doug’s abstract paintings often focus on bold blocks of color, deliberate lines, and carefully chosen letter combinations come together to evoke a sense of place and time. His compositions are a dynamic exploration of form and structure, capturing environments through a lens of abstraction. In recent years, Doug has expanded his artistic exploration into the realms of vintage and contemporary cameras, creating works that bridge the gap between photography, painting, and found-object sculpture. These multidisciplinary pieces investigate the history and technology of the camera, combining elements of art history, industrial design, and the artist’s personal history. Doug’s approach to these themes is both reflective and innovative, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of art and technology. Through his diverse body of work, Doug Wing invites viewers to engage with both his artistic process and the ways in which everyday life can be transformed into meaningful, multilayered art. Whether through the abstraction of urban landscapes or his exploration of photographic technology, Doug’s art serves as a celebration of creativity, personal history, and the transformative power of visual storytelling.

13. Eva Adnarel
    

Eva Adnarel (b. 2003) is an autistic artist based in Portland, Oregon. Since childhood, art has been Adnarel’s most authentic form of self-expression, a tool to process emotions and experiences, and a way to communicate with others without the need for words. Detail-oriented and always seeking artistic challenges, they work in a variety of styles and mediums, both traditionally and digitally.

14. Iris Tervo

Iris Tervo (b. 2004) is an artist and illustrator whose work is a vibrant tribute to the spirit of pop culture. Through stylized, figurative compositions, she captures the presence of contemporary musicians, athletes, and cultural icons, transforming familiar faces into modern mythologies. Iris’s practice is rooted in movement both physical and emotional. Music pulses through her headphones in the studio, informing the rhythm of her lines. With a graphic sensibility and a keen eye for pattern, she reimagines the spectacle of stardom as a new kind of iconography: expressive, electric, and unmistakably now. Tervo’s inspirations stretch beyond celebrity to encompass beloved albums and the places that have shaped her. Each piece becomes a visual mixtape and a celebration of influence, identity, and the joy of connection through culture.

15. James Enos

James Enos (b. 1987) is a prolific mixed-media writer and illustrator renowned for his large-scale, self-constructed books that take place within his imaginative world, the “Kid Stuff Universe.” Each of his books is a work of art in itself, meticulously designed and executed by James from start to finish. His extraordinary creative process involves binding, researching, writing, and hand-drawing illustrations, many of which extend into fold-out sections, reaching impressive lengths of up to 275 cm. Every story begins as a typewritten manuscript and is then illustrated chronologically, with each page unfolding a new visual and narrative element.  James’s books are more than just stories, they are tactile, immersive experiences. His narratives blend personal life experiences with influences from the pop culture of the late 80s and early 90s, picture books adapted from major motion pictures. His stories are full of humor, creativity, and an intuitive grasp of plot structure and syntax, often reflecting a wry, playful take on the world around him. Through his books, James explores a wide range of themes while creating a vast, interconnected universe that captures the wonder and nostalgia of childhood, filtered through his unique artistic lens. One of his most recent projects includes several volumes that are bound together into a single, monumental book, a testament to his commitment to both storytelling and craftsmanship. Through his work, James Enos invites readers into a larger-than-life world that blurs the boundaries between art, literature, and nostalgia, where stories are as much about the experience of creation as they are about the narratives themselves. James is co-represented by Booklyn (Brooklyn NYC).

16. John Mosser 

John Mosser (b. 1968) is a self-taught, established artist based in Portland, Oregon. For many years, he created work at Portland Art and Learning Studio, a fellow progressive art space that sadly closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This led to a temporary creative pause. In the summer of 2024, John returned to his practice with renewed energy, joining North Pole Studio and regaining access to the materials and community support vital to his work.

John is widely recognized for his extraordinary and prolific body of work, centered on dynamic studies of trucks. Evocative of a cubist sensibility, John translates the three-dimensional experience of place and movement into compelling two-dimensional compositions. His seemingly kinetic works reveal a deep fascination with motion and machinery, transforming mechanical subjects into vibrant, expressive forms.

17. Joni Smith

Joni Smith (b. 1955) is a prolific self-taught artist who has been drawing since childhood. Over the course of Joni’s 60-year art practice, she has filled hundreds of sketchbooks.
For Joni, art is a primary communication tool. She will draw for over eight hours each day, often filling both sides of her sketchbook pages. Joni draws with a confident, strong hand, making seemingly instantaneous decisions about color as she layers her lines with fluid, instinctual strokes. Over time, each page becomes saturated with vibrant, varied strokes and layers of color. Sometimes the page will tear under the force of her strokes. In 2021, Joni joined North Pole Studio where her creative practice expanded dramatically. Utilizing an upright drafting table, Joni became able to work at a much larger scale from her wheelchair. Over the past three years, Joni has created a stunning collection of large-scale mixed media abstract paintings, characterized by rich layers of bold and harmonious color.

18. Kristy Yawman

Kristy Yawman (b. 1979) is the artist and creative force behind Taurini Designs, an e-commerce shop based in Camas, Washington. With a lifelong passion for art, Kristy has been creating since her high school years, finding a distinctive voice in the world of vibrant, detail-rich illustrations. Her work is known for its intricate patterns and lively color schemes, often brought to life using Sharpie markers. Kristy is currently a member of North Pole Studio’s Studio Program and was a former member of Vibrant Palette in Seattle, WA. Collaboration is at the heart of her process: Her sister, Stacy, assists in transforming Kristy’s original drawings into a variety of products, including greeting cards, prints, mugs, and custom art commissions. Kristy’s creations reflect her worldview, one shaped by dreams, travel, and simple moments of joy. She takes immense pride in crafting art and products that bring happiness to others, believing in the power of art to uplift and connect.

19. MantaJay (b. 2004)

Manta Jay (b. 2004) is a Portland-based artist whose work blends self-taught techniques with a deep passion for visual storytelling. His expertly rendered illustration style draws from Japanese folklore, manga, anime, and humor, resulting in a distinctive fusion of cultural tradition and playful imagination. A lifelong patron of the arts, Jay has been immersed in galleries and museums since childhood; a formative experience that continues to fuel his exploration of new mediums and his commitment to bringing richly imaginative worlds to life.

20. Max LaZebnik

Originally from Los Angeles, Max LaZebnik (b. 1991) has been creating art since childhood. Max’s characteristic style is present across diverse subject matter including portraits, outer space, landscapes, and 1960’s inspired folk art.  Max primarily works with COPIC markers, POSCA markers, colored pencils, ink, and graphite pencil. Max processes his life experiences as a neurodivergent person and the social justice issues impacting his life and the world around him through portraiture. His passions are evident in his diverse collection of work which explores subjects related to politics, current events, art, theme parks, music, film, and pop culture.

21. Nathan Ueno 

A native of Oregon, Nathan Ueno (b. 2000) is a multidisciplinary artist working with a range of materials including paint, pastels, markers, and colored pencils. His work is distinguished by the use of deliberate linework and bold, expressive color to symbolically interpret the world around him. Ueno’s artistic practice spans a wide array of subjects and influences, drawing inspiration from abstract art, architecture, portraiture, history, politics, geography, and nature. Through his dynamic visual language, he seeks to explore the intersections of personal experience and collective memory. In addition to creating art,  Nathan is an employee at North Pole Studio where he works as the organization’s Shipping and Receiving Associate. 

22. Ocean Stever 

“My art is an echo of what I am, what I was, and what I hope to be. Art is a really emotional process for me. I hope that with my art, I can help guide people into what they need to feel.” 

Ocean Stever (b.2002) is a writer and self-taught mixed-media visual artist from Gresham, Oregon. Ocean’s primary medium is collage, through which she weaves her creative writing practice and experience in drawing/painting to create layered and thought-provoking works. Through imagery of the natural world, renaissance iconography, and human anatomy, Ocean processes complex feelings around religion, mortality, and the human experience. Using found text she invites the viewer to thoughtfully engage with her questions, vacillating between satirical ominosity and vulnerable sincerity.

23. Sally Inman 

“Ever since childhood, I have been drawn to bold, vivid colors. Animals, fairies, and angels have most often been the main subjects of my art. I’ve been making art pretty much my whole life. My art is mostly inspired by dreams I had when I was a young child. A large majority of them were lucid and had vivid colors. These dreams were so beautiful they would usually leave an ache in my heart, like I wouldn’t want to wake from these dreams. These are the emotions that I want to evoke in people when they see my artwork.

I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, and I now live and create my art in Portland. Acrylic paints, watercolors, and pastels are my main art mediums. Painting and creating art gives me joy and happiness.”

24. Scott Tullock

Scott Tullock (b. 1986) is a storyteller and connection seeker whose art explores the space between the familiar and the profound. Working exclusively with paint pens and Sharpie on repurposed canvases, Scott’s practice is rooted in a passion for sustainability, often sourcing materials from thrift stores to give new life to discarded objects. Since joining the studio, he has expanded his creative horizons, incorporating printmaking into his evolving body of work.

Scott’s art is a playful yet meaningful exploration of cultural, mythological, and historical themes. Drawing from a diverse tapestry of influence including: film, comics, video games, and global cultural motifs, his pieces evoke a sense of nostalgia while inviting viewers to dive into a world where whimsy and depth coexist. Each work serves as a portal, encouraging exploration and reflection, while maintaining a sense of joyful curiosity.

25. Tyla Parsons 

Tyla Parsons (b. 2004) is a self-taught, emerging artist based in Oregon, currently working at North Pole Studio. A recent graduate of Victory Academy in Sherwood, Tyla has cultivated a bold and expressive visual language through her mixed-media practice. Over the past five years, she has developed a distinctive, layered style characterized by rhythmic compositions that suggest blooming fields or bustling human gatherings evoking movement, emotion, and energy. Drawing from her deep love of fashion and beauty, Tyla brings an elegant sense of color, texture, and pattern to each piece. Her artistry extends beyond the canvas, reflected in her personal style from thoughtfully coordinated outfits to detailed nails and makeup. This holistic approach to aesthetics infuses her work with vibrancy, individuality, and a celebration of self-expression.

26. Zina Allen 

Zina Allen (she/they/Z) is a Corvallis artist and poet. Their art is an outlet and a way for them to create while living with disabilities. They are inspired by the concept of social symbiotic relationships and the idea that equity is possible. Their work joins layers and different ways of seeing things to represent the complexities they observe not just in their own life but also the world around them. They work as an architect, designer and wellness and equity ambassador at the Disability Equity Center. Zina recently received the Paul Harris Fellow award from the National Rotarians for their multiple volunteer efforts.

27. TJ Lightburn 

Thatcher “TJ” Lightburn (b. 1985) is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Denver, Colorado, now living and working in Portland, Oregon. A self-professed left-handed renaissance man, TJ explores a wide range of media including welding, illustration, ceramics, and painting, each offering a distinct path into his layered, imaginative world. His work draws deeply from vibrant imagery: blooming flowers, dreamscapes and nightmares, the shifting moods of the ocean, and the rich visual language of 1960s and 70s psychedelia. These inspirations echo the dynamic workings of his mind; colorful, surreal, and constantly in motion.

Recently, TJ has turned his attention to a playful and strangely poignant recreation of Star Wars starring the Pickle Man, a human-pickle hybrid who stumbles into epic adventures across the galaxy. First brought to life through expressive ceramic sculptures, this unlikely hero has found new form in a series of comics, a retelling of the Star Wars saga through the lens of TJ’s imagination. Rendered in rich layers of colored pencil and infused with both absurdity and affection, the Pickle Man’s journey bridges humor and myth, inviting viewers into a world that is at once strange, familiar, and endlessly surprising.