Join us for the Opening Reception of North Pole Studio’s largest group exhibition to date, tell ___ ‘hi’ from me on Thursday, July 17th from 4:00-6:00pm at Littman & White Gallery. Enjoy light snacks and refreshments, and take in a short speaking program from the staff and participating artists. July is Disability Pride Month, and the reception will include drop-in engagement opportunities to celebrate including button-making and more!

Curatorial Statement

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’.