5 photographs

Modern Art

An artist perched on a ladder applies bold strokes to a sweeping geometric mural adorning the exterior wall of Coast Auto Supply on Southeast Stark Street. The composition features flowing bands of sage green, dusty rose, and sunshine yellow that curve across the weathered concrete surface. A cheerful turquoise sidewalk sign reading 'MURAL IN PROGRESS' sits on the cracked asphalt, while afternoon light catches the fresh paint and casts long shadows across the urban streetscape. — ISO 160 · 23mm · f/1.8 · 1/90

Street Artist Creates Vibrant Mural in Portland

Portland, Oregon

A street artist works on a colorful geometric mural in Portland's Central Eastside district, part of a Portland Street Art Alliance project.

Dozens of molded plastic Santa Claus figures glow with warm amber light in Chris Willis's annual art installation at a Sellwood consignment gallery. The repetitive crimson-clad figures create a mesmerizing pattern that stretches into darkness, their identical jolly expressions caught between whimsy and unsettling uniformity. The installation transforms the humble Christmas decoration into a commentary on mass production and holiday commercialization, with each illuminated Santa casting a soft pool of light in the gallery's shadowy interior. — ISO 800 · 50mm · f/5.6 · 1/60

Illuminated Santa Army in Portland Gallery

Portland, Oregon

Chris Willis's "Santa Clones" installation illuminates dozens of identical plastic Santa figures in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood.

Hundreds of identical Santa Claus figures occupy the floor of Consignment Store in Portland's Sellwood neighborhood, creating Chris Willis's surreal annual art installation. The ceramic or plastic Santas are arranged in precise rows on wire shelving, their jolly faces creating an unsettling sea of mass-produced Christmas cheer. Gallery windows reflect the quiet street outside, where a silver SUV and storefronts hint at the ordinary world beyond this dreamlike tableau of holiday multiplication. — ISO 800 · 33mm · f/5.6 · 1/60

Santa Clones Installation at Portland Gallery

Portland, Oregon

Chris Willis's "Santa Clones" installation transforms Portland's Consignment Store into a haunting landscape of mass-produced holiday figures.

A portrait of muralist Kyle Danley, also known as Wetiko, standing in front of one of his large-scale murals depicting a close-up of a French Bulldog's face on a pink building. He wears a black Arc'teryx puffer jacket, a grey hoodie, khaki jeans, and a mustard yellow beanie. Neck and hand tattoos are visible. He looks directly into the camera with a calm, serious expression, hands in his pockets. — ISO 100 · 110mm · f/2 · 1/250

Kyle Danley

Portland, Oregon

Muralist Kyle Danley, also known as Wetiko, in front of his mural at the Taylor Electric site in Portland, Oregon.

A motion-blurred pedestrian carrying a blue bag walks briskly along a wet sidewalk in Portland, Oregon, past a large-scale graffiti mural by artist Uter. The mural spans two building surfaces and features bold black-and-white surrealist imagery including a hooded figure, a cartoon bear character in yellow and pink, a stylized letter form with a rabbit inside, and circular emblems with illustrated faces. A parked white truck is partially visible on the right. — ISO 100 · 60mm · f/8 · 1/60

Passing Through

Portland, Oregon

A pedestrian passes a mural by Portland street artist Uter.