Mike Bennett (artist)
American artist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mike Bennett is an American visual artist based in Portland, Oregon. He studied art education and has worked as a preschool teacher.[1]
Mike Bennett | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania |
| Known for | Visual art |
| Notable work | Wonderwood |
| Website | mikebennettstudios |
Early life and education
Originally from Massachusetts, Bennett was raised in central Pennsylvania. In 2012, he studied animation, art education, computer design, and illustration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.[2]
Career and projects
Bennett installed large plywood cartoon characters in 2019.[2][3][4][5] In 2020, he partnered with Miller Paint to offer Earth Day kits.[6] He also hosted a collection called Crypto Zoo outside his house in 2020.[7] Bennett's A to Zoo[8][9] and A, B, Sea projects were exhibited at Director Park. Bioluminescent Beasts was displayed at Pioneer Place in 2022 as part of the Portland Winter Light Festival.[10] Dinolandia was exhibited in downtown Portland in 2022.[11][12][13]
In 2023, Bennett hid fifty artworks for people to find as part of a Zelda-themed scavenger hunt.[14] He also hosted a moving sale and released Halloween-themed yard art in 2023.[15][16] Painted Pines was exhibited at the Lloyd Center in early 2024.[17] The Cool Creature Crawl was held at the Oregon Zoo in 2024.[18][19]
Bennet contributed a plywood work to Robot Alley. He also designed MidCity SmashedBurger's mascot, who appears in the company's logo. He opened Wonderwood in 2022.[20][21][22] In 2022, Bennett was recognized as a distinguished alumni of his high school for his work in the visual arts.[23] He was a Portland TedX speaker in April 2025.[24] Bennett opened a cartoon aquarium called the Portland Aquarium, in the former Public Domain Coffee space in downtown Portland later in the year.[25][26] He also designed a scarf for the Portland Timbers and painted the world's longest dachshund at his studio.[27][28] In 2026, he launched a podcast called The Zooquarium Podcast, which is co-hosted by Chanel Hason.[29] He also painted a sculpture for the art installation Wildwood: Follow the Crows.[30][31]
Snow Day
In 2022, Bennett presented "Snow Day" at a space attached to the Ace Hotel on 10th Avenue, from November 25 to December 31. The exhibit had a gift shop and original artwork.[32] He hosted the seasonal pop-up shop Snow Day Village at Director Park in 2024. The shop debuted stuffed animals based on his visual work.[33][34] In 2025, Snow Day Village was held in the same park from November 15 to December 23. In addition to a holiday gift shop, the exhibit will feature fire pits, goats, and live music.[35]
Painted Pines (2024)
The educational art installation[36] Painted Pines was an art installation on the top floor of the Lloyd Center, a shopping mall in the northeast Portland part of the Lloyd District. In September 2023, news outlets began reporting on Bennett's plans to open the exhibit in March 2024,[36][37] with a goal of operating for two years. Bennett partnered with the advertising agency Kamp Grizzly and Lloyd Center owner Urban Renaissance Group.[38] Painted Pines was described as a "multi-land immersive art experience" and "community playground" inspired by the nation's national parks. The exhibit was installed in a 45,098-square-foot space that previously housed a movie theater and featured four themed areas—Acrylic Alps, Critter Canyon, Geyser Gulch, and Tall Tall Timbers—with approximately 1,000 cartoon animal and plant artworks.[38]
Reception
Bennett won in the Best Visual Artist category of Willamette Week's annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2025 and 2026.[39][40]
