David Friedman studied art and painting at the University of Illinois, worked as an artist and designer in New York, and has lived and worked in Portland, Oregon since 1993. His practice remains intentionally eclectic; he views artistic style not as a fixed signature, but as the natural result of lived experience, curiosity, and a willingness to experiment, fail, and try again. Friedman is a founding board member of Portland Open Studios, a long-serving board member of Art In The Pearl and a member of the Alberta Street Gallery.
"My work explores the tension between stillness and motion, precision and light. Using traditional papercutting techniques alongside reflective color optics, I hand-cut each piece from pastel papers with X-Acto knives, then mount the forms on custom hand-cut acrylic-mini-stilts. By laminating color behind black paper, I allow light to reflect onto the surface below, creating luminous “color shadows” that suggest depth, movement, and air—without the use of paint or digital effects. I’m drawn to paper for its humility and its unforgiving nature; every cut is permanent, and every cut is essential. Over time, my work has evolved from single-layer silhouettes into multi-level compositions that integrate color, light, shadow, and spatial layering. Through this process, I continue to explore how far I can push a simple material—transforming a flat sheet of paper into something that feels dimensional, luminous, and alive." |
Media: Drawing | Paper Art (including Papercutting & Collage)
Studio Number: 37
Address: 4316 NE 38th Ave, Portland, OR 97211
Community: NE Portland
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Email: friedart@gmail.com
Website: friedart.com
Instagram: @friedart
Facebook: @friedart
