About



Jason Sturgill is a former graphic designer turned art director and illustrator. He grew up thinking he couldn’t draw and it wasn’t until he was in his 30s that he put the proverbial pencil to paper. Jason unknowingly has always been a fan of illustration from a young age through his fascination with skateboard and album art. This love of art led him to start an online art gallery in 2001 while he was working as an interactive producer at Wieden+Kennedy. His professional career started in advertising in a non creative capacity but after having cancer at the age of 28 he made a concerted effort to switch to design eventually working for Dark Horse Comics and Nike Skateboarding before pivoting into illustration. After working for several years as a professional illustrator Jason found out he had Bipolar 2 disorder and has integrated mental health advocacy in his personal work that he regularly shares through his instagram account. You can check out some of that work by following him at @jgspdx

Selected Client List: 

Nike, Muji, McSweeny's Illustoria Magazine, Teva, The Hoxton Hotel, Bridge & Burn, Poler, Graniph, The Quiet Life, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Wieden+Kennedy, Portland Trailblazers, Nissin, Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, Supermaker, New Balance, Anorak Magazine, Warby Parker, Fort George Brewery, Portland Art Museum, Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery, Pinterest, True Parent Magazine, Dram Apothecary and Stumptown Coffee Roasters

Speaking & Workshops:

2022 - Art Center Guest Speaker
2021 - Ankrom Moisan Architects Guest Speaker
2020 - Cinco Design Lecture & Workshop
2019 - PNCA Lecture
2019 - Design Week Kyoto Panelist
2018 - George Fox University Lecture
2017 - Creative Mornings Lecture
2017 - Design Week Kyoto Lecture
2016 - Portland Art Museum Artist Talk
2015 - ELCAF Lecture
2014- ICON Workshop
2013 - Design Week Portland 
2012 - Reed College Visiting Artist


Residencies:

2016 - Blinkist
2016 - Portland Art Museum
2015 - Ash Street Project
2013 - Museum of Contemporary Craft
2013 - Broken City Lab
2012 - Portland Art Museum
2012 - Em Space Book Arts Center

Exhibitions:

2023 | Solo show | Makerspace Sellwood | Portland, OR
2023 | Solo show | A Sometimes Gallery | Portland, OR
2022 | Solo show | Vein of Gold | Portland, OR
2020 | Group show | Box Museum | Dalian, China
2019 | Solo show | Laidbug Gallery | Tokyo, Japan
2016 - Drip for Drip
2014 - Portland Art Museum
2014 | Solo show | Compound Gallery | Portland, OR
2013 | Group show | Art Crank Poster Show | Portland, OR
2012 | Featured Artist | PDX Contemporary Gallery | Portland, OR
2011 | Group Show | Prints for PICA | Portland, OR


Teaching:

2023 - West Texas A&M Adjunct Graphic Design Professor
2017 - Similarly Different: Japan Teaching Abroad
2010-2017 Portland State University Adjunct Graphic Design Professor


Press:

The Stranger Interview
Beach London
The Illustration Conference
InkyGoodness
Ape on The Moon
The Job

Awards:

2022 - American Illustration Awards
2021 - American Illustration Awards
2020 - Bronze Medal from The Society of Illustrators
2020 - Best Looking Beer Cans in America

Select Testimonials:

"I loved that Jason comes to the table with fresh and clever concepts beyond my initial ideas. He's able to draft ideas quickly, flexible and open to collaboration and delivers refined execution. I'm looking forward to hiring Jason again."
Jen Wick @ True Parent Magazine

"The team at Blinkist is always super stoked to see what Jason comes up with next. Jason showed great initiative and got a special project off the ground, in which he visually interprets what he learned from one of our summaries. He's a go-getter, no doubt, with a sturdy understanding of leveraging contacts and social media. Plus, the illustrations are charming."
Emily Phillips @ Blinkist

"Jason did a bunch of design and Illustration work for me at New Balance for the 2015 Australian Open. I hired him because I love his playful original point of view, which he delivered in spades. He was also a joy to work with.
Can't wait to find another project to work with him on."
Bob Smith @ New Balance

"Jason was asked to design the logo of our juice/coffee company. The premise of the logo was to communicate an imagery which conveys health, positivity, and well-being. Our experience was professional and he worked amazingly bouncing ideas around with our entire team. 10/10 experience."
Chan Wong @ Best Friend

"I have worked with Jason on many art and design projects at the Portland Art Museum. Jason has terrific creative instincts and it's always a pleasure to work with him. Most recently he created the logo for our annual "Monster Drawing Rally." We loved the design so much we turned it into t-shirts. I would never hesitate to hire Jason for a project. He's the best."
Stephanie Parrish @ Portland Art Museum

"Hired Jason for Anorak magazine's third activity book. He delivered a great, creative cut out activity for the kids that was brilliant!"
Lewis Smith @ Anorak Magazine