PORTLAND, Ore. — Art is a universal language, often told through paint, pencil and paper, but no matter what the medium, it illustrates the voice of an artist.
“It’s also just a way for me to express myself, and it feels like another outlet for me to communicate,” artists Mx LaZebnik said. “It’s honestly easier to communicate in art than it is in words.”
LaZebnik is one of three artists whose work is featured on TriMet lift buses driving around the Portland area.
Each has their own style and point of view, but they have one thing in common: They are all artists at North Pole Studio in Portland. It is a space for serving neurodivergent artists in North Portland — artists like LaZebnik, Annie Rose Macher and Austin Brague.
“This studio has encouraged me to dream big and really strive for who I can be and embrace my potential,” Brauge said. “It has brought me opportunities that I never could have imagined.”
The partnership between TriMet and North Pole Studio is putting their art into ignition in a kind of art exhibition on wheels.
“It’s exhilarating,” Brague said. “I think that’s the best word to describe it.”
“It’s amazing. It’s not what I dreamed of, really,” Macer said.
“Gosh, I mean it’s so cool. I never thought I would get this honor,” LaZebnik said.
LaZebnik is a portrait artist at heart.
“Drawing can be very soothing especially with portraits,” he said. “I find just carving out the face, there’s something very therapeutic about it.”
He uses that keen eye for faces in his TriMet design, which celebrates neurodivergent representation.
“It’s basically a bunch of portraits of famous neurodivergent people, like Stephen Wilshire or Temple Grandin,” he said. “I want to show people that people who are neurodivergent do great things and shouldn’t be stigmatized anymore.”
Annie Rose Macer is known for her signature collage method called “paper quilting,” even though she will tell you that art was not her first love.
“It’s been a different point of view,” Marcer said. “I’m generally in the athletic department, throwing a ball; I’m good at math. So, this was kind of out there for me, it felt at first.”
Now, her use of color and structure is making its way around the city.
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Austin Brague has been with North Pole Studio since its opened in 2020.
His design is inspired by the city and community he loves — Portland.
“The buildings and scenery that we’re in that we don’t even think twice about: transportation and architecture,” he said. “It just makes sense, since we are a city where we accept anyone who comes in — like, you can be whoever you want here. It made sense to do a drawing of the city of Portland because it is a city for all.”
Brauge’s art is all about the details.
“It’s my autistic mind that does that,” he said. “Because of my disability, it’s given me the opportunity to pay more attention to detail and notice things, I guess, maybe others wouldn’t notice.”
Austin says his autism is like his superpower, and North Pole Studio is here to help give that power a platform.
“Our mission is to empower artists with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead self-determined lives and careers in the arts," North Pole Studio Director of Marketing KT Poirier said. “We facilitate their inclusion in the arts through an accessible studio space, as well as really robust arts programming.”
“It’s become so important, and it’s just nice to have a place where I can really pursue my goals,” LaZebnik said. “It’s just really nice to have real community, not just drawing by myself, and ultimately, I feel more motivated when I’m here, too.”
This project partnership with TriMet not only gives artists more exposure, but it’s also a lucrative career opportunity for them.
“By not only having an opportunity to exhibit art but to have professional sales, to experience that,” Poirier said. “To be commissioned for such a big project is a really big deal for any artist's professional career — and even more a critical opportunity for these voices.”
North Pole Studio relies on community support. Right now, they’re on Willamette Week’s Give Guide if you’d like to donate. You can learn more about their work and get involved at northpolestuio.org.