Paola De La Cruz

I was watching E.T when inspiration struck… PICKLE BOO! Thank you @picklesbaseball for having me as part of this seasons artist series along with some amazing local artists. GO PICKLES! This design is for the Portland Pickles v. Yakima Valley Pippins games August 3-5 2026 💚

After being incarcerated in a New York State prison for 22 years, Bobbi Cobaugh was released last October. During her time inside, she was a jailhouse lawyer – an invisible advocate for other incarcerated women – and writes a piece about the importance of this role and how vital it is that the technological divide is rectified so more women can be empowered to fight for justice. “The prison industrial complex is designed to isolate, keeping individuals siloed in their own struggle and disconnected from a sense of community,” writes Bobbi. “When I sit across from a woman, I am breaking that isolation; she realises she is no longer navigating prison alone because someone is finally in her corner. Because I was “similarly situated” – also incarcerated – I was in a powerful position to translate the system.” 🎨 @happynappystudio who says: “This image centres the unseen labor of women who sustain justice from within prison walls. The figure’s body is present but her facial features have been obscured, while the hands remain vivid and actively writing. This is to emphasise how incarcerated lawyers are rendered invisible even as their work shapes real outcomes. Papers orbit the figure like unfinished thoughts, appeals, and lives in motion, reflecting the constant legal pressure surrounding them. The glowing pen and handwritten line represent the care, precision, and resilience in a system that denies her the proper tools and recognition for her labour. This piece honors authorship without credit and frames how writing can be a quiet, radical act of survival.” With thanks to @empowermentave for vital connective work. /articles/opinion/ghostwriters-of-justice/

Hi 2026 ⭐️ Here’s my 2025 hair wrapped. - Slide 1: January 2025 - Feb - March - So on - Last slide is the morning of January 2026 ❤️

touchdown 💕we're grateful to the residents and staff at Arbor Lodge + Sophie @regionalarts + our friends esp @franki3bby for helping us bring this project to the finish line

A new mural now welcomes the community across from Dawson Park in North Portland. “The Ground We Share” by Portland-based artist Paola De La Cruz (@happynappystudio ) adorns the historic Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church property.  The church was founded in 1885 as the “mother church” of the Catholic Volga Germans who settled in Portland’s Albina neighborhood. As decades passed, new groups arrived in the Albina neighborhood and to the parish, including African Americans, Vietnamese, and Filipinos. Many Catholic African Americans from Louisiana came to the area to work in the nearby shipyards, helping build a strong community in this neighborhood. “This mural is a vibrant vignette honoring community, growth, and hope. It weaves together everyday moments: a young woman praying, children playing, families gathering, elders sharing wisdom, across a colorful landscape celebrating intergenerational connection and belonging. Flowing from lush greens to deep blues, the scene reflects the journey of growth through nature, relationships, and time. The radiant sun and golden branches overhead symbolize guidance, abundance, and the ever-present strength and love felt within the community.” – Paola De La Cruz Deep gratitude to Paola for her partnership and grace, and to the City of Portland, Immaculate Heart’s pastor, Hayden Senter, and Arc-En-Ciel Montessori Preschool for their support. This mural stands as a beautiful example of what’s possible when neighboring businesses, artists, and institutions come together for the good of the community. 📸 @sarasjol 📍 2910 N Williams Ave. Portland, OR 97227 #PaolaDeLaCruz #NorthPortland #ImmaculateHeartChurch #PDXStreetArt #PortlandStreetArt #PDXart #PortlandArt #PortlandOregon #PDXMurals #PortlandMurals #PDXArtsandCulture #CityofPortland #PSAA #PortlandStreetArtAlliance #MuralCommission #DawsonPark #AlbinaPortland #AlbinaPDX

Thank you to @hillsdalefarmersmarketpdx ☀️ it was such a pleasure to paint your truck

Starting this bright mural for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in north Portland. Muraling is such a labor intensive job, and the summer heat can be so brutal, none of that matters to me when neighbors approach me with enthusiasm and curiosity when I’m out painting. Today was particularly special. A neighbor lended me a make shift umbrella and portable fan, others offered me cold water and I even had a neighbor gift me an original watercolor piece with a thank you message. Sometimes murals can feel unnecessary or hard to understand. Too often, funding that could go directly to community needs is instead used to commission artwork that feels intrusive or disconnected. But in many cases, a mural can be something beautiful and unifying, bringing people together, sparking conversation, and creating shared pride. The happy faces, the kiddos running up to tell me they want to be artists too, these are the moments that make a difference. That’s when muraling, done in true response to a community, becomes the most holistic approach. Thank you to the Portlanders who stopped by to share how much this means to them. You made my day so much brighter ☀️

Had the HONOR to design and paint this mural for @katalinashouseofbeauty - Karina is the most driven and hard working person I’ve ever met. So proud of you and the opening of your new salon.

Had the exciting opportunity to paint a mural for @portlandstate welcome center on campus ☀️ It was so fun to delve into a design that is more focused and landscapes and less figurative. ☀️ Thank you so much for having me!

meet the artist 🎨 @happynappystudio ’s exclusive poster is available to the first 5K fans today! Our Juneteenth scarf is only available in store!

Paola De La Cruz aka @happynappystudio aka @djmasomenos is a Dominican American visual artist and DJ. At a más o menos set, you can expect to tap into your “inner bad b*tch” through the her style of blending Afro-Caribbean, Latin house, dembow. más o menos started her DJ journey with the goal of bringing more Dominican and Afro-Caribbean music to the PNW Beyond her talents behind the decks, she is renowned visual artist with multiple large scale pieces distributed throughout the city of Portland (and beyond). In fact her original work is currently on tour via @trimet with a full bus 🚌 wrap designed by her. And for any @thornsfc fans out there, her design is featured on a LIMITED EDITION scarf releasing this Saturday. A true gem of this city and scene - we’ll see you tonight! LIBER8 PDX 2025 FREE ENTRY ALL NIGHT Hosted @process.pdx Sunday, June 19th 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM RSVP on Resident Advisor

action shots 😤🥵