Meet the 2026 artist Series Artists
Neon Black Tiger
Neon Black Tiger is a Portland-based artist known for his electrifying “Neon Terror” doodles, bold, chaotic reinterpretations of sports cards, athletes, musicians, and pop culture icons. His signature style transforms familiar figures into wild, high-energy characters using bright neon colors, snaggletooth fangs, and glowing white zombie eyes.
Working primarily on an iPad, Neon Black Tiger reimagines traditional sports card aesthetics with an over-the-top twist designed to stand out, especially in the kind of dollar-bin card boxes where forgotten heroes and oddball collectibles often live.
Inspired by a wide range of artists including Alex Pardee, Optimus Volts, Blake Jamieson, and Pastime Woodcraft, his work celebrates the weird, rebellious side of sports and pop culture. He’s also a big fan of the creative community in Portland, particularly the eclectic mix of artists who continue to push boundaries and experiment with style.
When he’s not drawing, Neon Black Tiger finds inspiration everywhere, from murals and graffiti across the city to the energy of local sports culture.
Instagram & socials: @NeonBlackTiger
Oliver Johnson
Oliver Johnson (he/him) is a young Portland artist and seventh grader at Kellogg Middle School with big creative dreams. An avid illustrator and storyteller, Oliver hopes to one day become an author and illustrator, creating imaginative worlds through both words and drawings.
A passionate fan of the Portland Pickles, Oliver can often be found around Walker Stadium during games. If you look closely, you might spot him drawing temporary tattoos for fans next to the Pickles tattoo truck, sharing his artwork with anyone willing to wear it for the night.
Oliver primarily works with pencil and enjoys the simple joy of drawing characters and scenes straight from his imagination. His creative inspirations range widely, from film composer John Williams and author Louis Sachar to his dog Billie.
Whether he’s sketching at home or at the ballpark, Oliver approaches art with curiosity, humor, and enthusiasm, always looking for the next idea to bring to life.
harrison Freeman
Harrison Freeman (he/him) is a Portland-based professional illustrator originally from Southern California. He studied illustration at ArtCenter College of Design before moving to Portland in 2012, where he quickly became a dedicated fan of the Portland Pickles.
Known for his expressive pen-and-ink illustration style, Harrison’s work often draws from classic underground cartooning and hot rod art traditions. One of his biggest influences is legendary artist Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, whose rebellious, character-driven illustrations helped shape the visual language of American counterculture.
Harrison is passionate about the craft of drawing and the human side of art-making. In an era increasingly shaped by automation, he believes strongly in maintaining the humanity of creative work, prioritizing hand-drawn expression and personal voice.
When he’s not drawing, Harrison spends time with his wife, daughter, and their three dogs, enjoying Portland summers and cheering on the Pickles at Walker Stadium.
Instagram: @harrisonefff
Portfolio: harrisonfreeman.com
Todd Adams
Todd Adams (he/him) is a designer, artist, and longtime sports marketer whose work has helped shape some of Portland’s most recognizable creative sports traditions. Todd originally founded the poster series for both the Portland Pickles and the Trail Blazers, helping establish the idea of collaborating with artists to celebrate sports culture through design.
Throughout his career, Todd has worked across a wide range of creative disciplines including graphics, branding, environmental design, retail displays, and packaging. His artistic practice blends these professional experiences with personal exploration across different mediums, from primarily digital work to hands-on materials like acrylic paint, charcoal, and even leatherwork.
Inspired by family, friends, and the visual energy of Portland itself, Todd’s work often celebrates the places and cultural moments that define the city. Whether drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of Forest Park or the glow of neon signs scattered across town, he enjoys creating designs that capture Portland’s unique atmosphere.
With this Artist Series collection, Todd brings his own artistic voice into the project he helped start, sharing a piece of Portland sports culture under his own name.
Instagram: @toddeadams
Jeremy Nichols
Jeremy Nichols is a Portland-based muralist, illustrator, and printmaker whose work is deeply influenced by street art and large-scale public painting. Born in Japan and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Jeremy earned a BFA in Printmaking before eventually moving to Portland in 2008, where he has worked as a full-time artist ever since.
Jeremy’s creative practice spans murals, illustration, and street-inspired artwork, often using spray paint as his primary medium. His work is shaped by the energy of the streets and the community of artists around him, drawing inspiration from fellow creatives and public art culture.
Over the years, Portland has become an ideal home base for Jeremy’s work. The city’s mix of creative communities, food culture, nature, and endless hobbies offers constant inspiration both inside and outside the studio.
When he’s not painting, Jeremy spends time with his two dogs and cat, exploring Portland’s food scene, especially pizza, or finding new music and creative inspiration.
Instagram: @plasticbirdie
Ali Hart
Alicia Hart (Ali) (she/they) is a Portland-based designer and illustrator who loves collaborating with fun people and creating bold, colorful work. Her art is playful, character-driven, and rooted in a deep appreciation for everyday joy and community.
Ali’s illustrations often feature expressive characters and cheerful personalities, something she attributes to fueling her inner child and her love for whimsical storytelling. Working primarily with pens and markers, she enjoys the immediacy and personality that hand-drawn linework brings to her designs.
Much of Ali’s inspiration comes from the people and small moments around her: artist friends, neighborhood pets, farmers market vendors, dogs in the park, and the many kind, interesting strangers she encounters in daily life. She’s also inspired by iconic artists like David Hockney and Portland creatives such as Kate Bingaman-Burt.
When she’s not drawing, Ali enjoys Portland’s community spaces, from browsing the “free piles” scattered around the city to grabbing tea at Bardo or hunting for the perfect side pickle with a meal.
Her work celebrates the playful, human side of creativity, art that feels bright, welcoming, and full of personality.
Website: hartartdesign.com
Instagram: @ali.hart.designs
YouTube: The Snack Table
Sheila Wong
Sheila Wong is a graphic designer and illustrator whose work explores the intersection of technology, storytelling, and art. Her creative perspective is shaped by a wide range of life experiences, from growing up as the child of Chinese immigrants in the Midwest to years spent working in tech support before fully embracing her artistic practice.
Sheila’s work often blends digital illustration with print-focused mediums like risograph, combining contemporary tools with tactile design traditions. Through her art, she enjoys preserving stories, memories, and everyday moments, sometimes even documenting meaningful family recipes and dishes through visual storytelling.
Community plays a big role in Sheila’s creative life. She finds inspiration in the many talented artists around her and loves participating in Portland’s vibrant network of zine fests, makers markets, and collaborative art events.
For Sheila, Portland stands out as a city full of passionate independent creators, makers, studios, and collectives that constantly inspire her to keep learning, experimenting, and creating.
Instagram: @sheilawong
Leah bartell
Leah Bartell (she/her) is a designer and artist based in Portland whose creative practice spans a wide range of mediums, from traditional painting to digital illustration and graphic design. Though she’s lived in Portland for just a few years, Leah has been creating for as long as she can remember.
She began her artistic journey through painting competitions and eventually transitioned into professional design work, where she now works as a corporate designer while continuing to explore creative projects across different formats and styles.
Leah enjoys working both physically and digitally, often painting with acrylic or designing in Illustrator. Her work reflects a love of experimentation and adaptability, allowing ideas to evolve naturally depending on the medium and context.
Inspired by Portland’s rebellious creative spirit and access to nature, Leah finds energy in the city’s artistic communities and interactive spaces like Hopscotch Portland. She also credits her fiancé, Tyler Nelson, as one of her biggest personal inspirations.
Through her work, Leah embraces design that feels expressive, playful, and a little unconventional.
Paola de la Cruz
Paola De La Cruz (she/her) is a Portland-based muralist and illustrator whose work centers on community, storytelling, and joyful collaboration. Through her creative practice, Paola approaches art as a shared experience, something that brings people together and reflects the voices of the communities around her.
Her work is vibrant, layered, and deeply rooted in cultural memory. Whether painting large-scale murals or leading workshops with young artists, Paola creates spaces where people, especially youth and marginalized communities, can see themselves represented with care, pride, and celebration.
Working across paint, fabric, and mixed media, Paola’s artistic process often invites participation. She regularly hosts shared painting days and classroom collaborations, encouraging community members to become part of the creative process itself.
Living in Portland provides constant inspiration for Paola, from quiet outdoor spaces to the everyday moments she encounters walking through the city.
Through her work, Paola aims to create art that feels welcoming, playful, and full of life.
Instagram: @happynappystudio