Ebony Frison

"If a house burns down, it's gone, but the place - the picture of it stays, and not just in my rememory, but out there in the world.” —Toni Morrison Ebony Frison and Stephanie Adams-Santos, both Portland-based artists and poets, come together to create a space to recall, reflect, and hold grief. Working in distinct visual languages, both artists engage memory as something active and persistent that lingers in image, land, and the body. Bringing together printmaking, installation, photography, and the written word, the exhibition takes its title from the concept of “rememory” in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, where memory is understood as experiential. Memory can live and breathe, love and admonish. Haunt. Opening Reception April 3rd, 6-8pm This exhibition is curated by TK Smith and is part of the Oregon Contemporary Artists’ Biennial, a survey of works by visual and performing artists who are defining and advancing Oregon’s contemporary art landscape.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 🔥⁠ Ebony Frison⁠ ⁠ 𝐄𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧⁠ ⁠As a maker, I am deeply thoughtful and introspective, drawn to themes of memory, identity, and the human experience. My process serves as a reflection of my curiosity about the world and a desire to provoke thought and inspire change. Inspired by a diverse range of artists, I incorporate elements of their styles and techniques into my own work while maintaining a unique and personal approach.⁠ ⁠ Memory plays a central role in this process, as I explore the concept of cellular memory and the ways in which our bodies carry memories of past experiences. Identity is another recurring theme in my work, as I navigate the complexities of race, culture, and selfhood. Inspired by artists who challenge conventional notions of identity, I strive to create art that celebrates the richness and diversity of black culture.⁠ ⁠ Social justice is at the heart of my creative process, as I use my work to shine a light on issues of race, inequality, and resilience. Through art, I seek to provoke thought and inspire change, challenging viewers to confront their own biases and preconceptions.⁠ ⁠ 2026 Artists' Biennial: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵⁠ April 3 – July 5, 2026

This is the first print we made with @ebony_frison_ for the last few weeks we have been scanning the entirety of Black Valor: The Carroll Archive. These images are so incredible and we cannot wait to share more of them. We are printing these images full bleed on natural hahnemuhle copperplate. These are all photos from World War II taken by soldiers in all black regiments. Digitizing and production of these prints is funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Office of Arts & Culture.

They’ve arrived. #ebony #beekeeping #hivesforheroes

Day 16 - Ebony Frison @ebony_frison_ Ebony Frison is a multidisciplinary artist, printmaker, and archivist whose practice explores memory, Black temporalities, and ecological relationships through photography, alternative print processes, installation, and social practice. Through Black Valor Archives, Frison creates spaces for rememory, collective reflection, and cultural preservation grounded in research, storytelling, and material experimentation. 1. What/Who do you consider as your community?Black artists, cultural workers, archivists, educators, beekeepers, and intergenerational storytellers committed to preservation, liberation, and collective care. I am grounded by people who believe art can hold memory, challenge erasure, and create spaces where ancestral knowledge, experimentation, and shared futures can coexist. 2. What kind of world are you building? A world where memory is protected, Black histories are honored beyond trauma, and creative spaces function as sites of care, study, and transformation. Through archives, printmaking, ecology, and storytelling, I want to cultivate deeper relationships between people, land, labor, ancestry, and collective imagination. 3. What does "prosperity" and/or "growth" mean to you? Prosperity means having resources, time, and support to create sustainably while remaining accountable to community and purpose. Growth means deepening my practice, expanding access to cultural preservation & building systems where artists and communities can thrive materially, creatively, spiritually, and across generations. April 26th denotes the first day of 250 days left in 2026. The "Portland 250 Artist Project" highlights one artist from our Portland region, everyday through the end of 2026. This project makes visible the artists, creatives, and culture bearers who are the lifeblood of community joy, vibrance, safety and resilience!  Artists are critical stakeholders in our region's civic health. Join this journey with me and 250 community artists who create thought provoking work that fuel our culture and enliven our collective well-being.  #pdx250artistproject #portlandartsandculture #artsaveslives #valueartists #community

#otherpeoplesbabies

I’m a certified beekeeper. I picked up my first hive yesterday from @hiveandgardenoregon . Bees arriving 4 weeks. Just enough time for me to get the hive ready.

Moving into the week feeling like I checked all the boxes and got shit done. #ebony

We’re open! Come see all the amazing women creatives set up at Terracina Studios today from 11-5. 215 SE Morrison St, Suite 2000E. Entrance under the Morrison Bridge, around the corner from City Liquidators. @groundwaterhealing @nobletextilespdx @ebony_frison_ @emeraldpetals @verbenacottagebakery @rorysparks @fyberworks @terracinaherbals

@ifccfriends Project Grantee, @ebony_frison_ , presents "Bound Visions: Hand-Bound Books with Vision Board Covers." Sunday March 29th, 1pm to 5pm. Create your own hand-bound journal with a vision board cover in this reflective, hands-on bookbinding workshop. Using collage materials such as photographs, magazine clippings, printed text, drawings, and decorative papers, each participant will construct a unique vision board that becomes the front cover of their handmade book. The workshop introduces foundational bookbinding methods—including paper preparation, folding signatures, and simple hand-sewn binding—while encouraging participants to think about how images, words, and materials can hold personal meaning. Participants will leave the workshop with a completed hand-bound book and a deeper understanding of how bookmaking can function as both a creative craft and a tool for reflection and storytelling. No prior bookbinding experience is required; all skill levels are welcome. Materials: All basic bookbinding materials will be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring scissors, personal images, photographs, or printed materials they may want to include in their vision board covers. Suggested donation: $5–$25. This workshop is accessible to all—no one will be turned away for lack of funds. LINK IN BIO. #foifcc #bookbinding #learn #residency #discover

Noah Purifoy Desert Exhibit Joshua Tree, CA.

I spent last weekend in Joshua Tree @noahpurifoyfoundation exhibit. As soon as I saw the “Band wagon” I was instantly reminded of these photos in the @black_valor_archive . #blackamericanart #ebony