Wikipedia

Mike Bennett (artist)

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
NationalityAmerican
Alma materShippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Known forVisual art
Notable workWonderwood
Websitemikebennettart.com

Early life and education

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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

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Slow down signs by Mike Bennett

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][18] The Cool Creature Crawl was held at the Oregon Zoo in 2024.[19][20] Bennet also hosted the seasonal pop-up shop Snow Day Village at Director Park in 2024. The shop debuted stuffed animals based on his visual work.[21][22]

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.[23][24][25] In 2022, Bennett was recognized as a distinguished alumni of his high school for his work in the visual arts.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2021-04-19). "Portland artist Mike Bennett is making his yard into a 'magical' aquarium alphabet this spring". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  2. ^ a b Turnquist, Kristi (2019-06-17). "Pokémon in the park? Portland man's cartoon cutouts pop up all over city". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2019-06-10). "Mike Bennett turns Portland into land of cartoon giants". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ^ "Cartoon scavenger hunts brighten Portland". BBC News. 2019-05-30. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  5. ^ "Portland-based artist creates scavenger hunt, hides memes and cartoons across city". KGW. 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  6. ^ "Paint like Portland's Mike Bennett with these $20 Earth Day kits". KGW. 2020-04-21. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  7. ^ "Halloween Might Be Canceled This Year. Don't Tell That to Mike Bennett". Willamette Week. 2020-09-23. Archived from the original on 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ Nakamura, Beth (2020-05-15). "Mike Bennett's outdoor art installation 'A to Zoo' showcases alphabet of animals in Alberta neighborhood, inspires musical collaboration with composer Joe Kye". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ Mahoney, Teresa (2020-04-25). "Drive-by 'zoo' pops up in Portland's Alberta neighborhood". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (2022-01-31). "Portland's self-guided Winter Light Festival glows for 9 nights". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  11. ^ "Dinolandia, an Immersive Museum of Mike Bennett Art, Will Open Downtown This Spring". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  12. ^ "Portland artist Mike Bennett loves dinosaurs. He thinks you'll love them too after visiting his pop-up museum, Dinolandia". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  13. ^ "Dinolandia brings Jurassic thrills to downtown Portland". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  14. ^ "Mike Bennett to hide Zelda-themed art around Portland Saturday". KOIN. May 19, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Paint with Mike Bennett at his 'MEGA' moving sale this weekend". KOIN. August 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Mike Bennett releases new series of Halloween decorations". KOIN. October 4, 2023. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2023-09-07). "Lloyd Center's top floor transforms to Mike Bennett's 'Painted Pines' in early 2024". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  18. ^ "Lloyd Center's top floor transforms to Mike Bennett's Painted Pines in early 2024". KOIN. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2024-03-21). "Try to find Mike Bennett's animals during 'Cool Creature Crawl' at Oregon Zoo". PortlandTribune.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  20. ^ "'Cool Creature Crawl' debuts at zoo". KATU. 2024-03-20. Archived from the original on 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  21. ^ "Mike Bennett to debut line of stuffed animals for the holidays". KOIN. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  22. ^ Haynes, Dana (2024-11-14). "Holidays popping up in downtown Portland". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  23. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2022-08-26). "Portland artist Mike Bennett to open immersive adventure space and coffee shop in St. Johns". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  24. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2022-10-20). "Mike Bennett's Wonderwood Springs brings a whimsical world to Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  25. ^ "Portland's Mike Bennett opens new medieval cafe, immersive art exhibit". KOIN. October 18, 2022. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Moore, Marcia (October 4, 2022). "Selinsgrove High School Alumni Banquet scheduled for Nov. 5". The Daily Item. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
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