Born in Shelton, WA, Helen C. White has lived in Portland, OR since she was six years old.
A life-long artist, White supported herself early in her career by working in business administration, first as a secretary and then as an Escrow Officer for a major banking institution. She studied Dance at Portland Community College and at Portland State, and in the early 2000s, opened Stuffings, a vintage furniture upholstery studio. She then launched House Dressing, a shop that specialized in styling and accessorizing homes prepared for sale. White acted as principal designer for both endeavors.
After decades of creative work, White enrolled in Maryhurst University's fine arts program, and, in 2010, earned her BFA Degree, with a focus in Painting. She studied with Marlene Bauer, Tad Savinar, Dennis Cunningham, among many wonderful others, and has since regularly exhibited her collage and mixed media works on paper, panel, and canvas at public and non-traditional galleries in the Portland and Vancouver, WA area. In 2026, will debut her work in Palm Springs, CA. From her modern, light-filled, Portland studio, White sells her work directly to her wide network of collectors and fans.
"My work is as much an intuitive process as it is about storytelling and memory. I create my abstract narrative paintings by first preparing my canvas, paper or board with multiple layers of acrylic mediums and colors, and then sand and scrape the paint as it dries - purposefully allowing the surface to stay rough in some areas and smooth in others. I then choose a central idea or image to ground the piece, typically inspired by vintage photos, found objects, current events, and stories. From photos of people or animals to stenciled numbers to handwritten words and other symbols etched right into the surface of my paintings, I intuitively select my themes and make my marks; traditional collage techniques feature prominently in my work. My paintings most strongly chronicle my remembering in a way that reframes and retells my own history and also reflects the world around me. In this most recent work, I invite the viewer to look for the light in dark days, and to celebrate the energy and joy of resilience." |
Media: Acrylic | Collage | Mixed Media | Painting
Studio Number: 84
Address: 2505 SE 11th Ave Suite 222, Portland, OR 97202
Community: SE Portland
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible (multiple entrances to studio; one allows for full access)
Email: helenwhite10s@gmail.com
Website: helencwhite.art
Instagram: @helencwhite
