The Living Garden gallery & studio

Nurturing Art + Empowering Communities

Celebrating Diversity

Welcome to The Living Garden.

From September 2023 - June 2024, we were a the vibrant hub nestled in the heart of Portland's historic Alberta Arts District. A rent increase is encouraging us to find a permanent, affordable location. We are currently working with PCRI to achieve this goal & have a home in mind on the corner of 18th & Alberta.

Founded by CEG, a native Portlander born and raised in 1994, our space is a testament to preserving the rich heritage of this neighborhood, especially its Black history.

In the early 2000s, CEG and their grandmother used to set up at Last Thursday, vending jewelry they lovingly handcrafted together. Witnessing the transformation of Portland into a more corporate landscape, CEG is deeply committed to keeping BIPOC art alive in this community.

Our mission

is to provide a sanctuary for artists to create & showcase their work without financial barriers. We envision a future where artists thrive in a space that values their creativity and uniqueness. The multipurpose studio at The Living Garden is designed to accommodate various art forms and includes an engineering and recording studio.

Classes and educational lectures will enrich minds, while a meditation room offers solace for introspection.

Our ultimate goal

is to secure a permanent location in the Alberta Arts District, with future plans to expand into other neighborhoods in Portland. We also aspire to host temporary pop-up galleries in unused real estate, turning overlooked spaces into vibrant art showcases.

In addition to our artistic mission,

we are committed to social equity.

We aim to hire at least 50% BIPOC, women, queer people, and people living with disabilities, as well as at least 50% local contractors from the neighborhood for any build out projects. This commitment extends to every aspect of our operations, ensuring that our community is truly represented and empowered.

Join us in our mission

to keep Black Art

in the Historic Alberta Arts District

+ spread art in all forms

by underrepresented artists

throughout Portland & beyond.

Together,

let's create a more inclusive and

vibrant artistic landscape

in Portland Metro.

Contact us at

contact@thelivinggardencorp.org

to learn more about how you can be a part of this creative movement.