Abstract Evolution

The Journey of Bobby Adams and his Latest Project

Bold, bright, and bursting with color. That is Bobby Adams – a hard-edge abstract painter who’s been creating in Portland’s art scene since 2017. He’s been featured in major Portland art galleries like Chefas Projects and Talon Gallery, painted large-scale public murals, and even run an independent gallery. Recently, Adams received a Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) grant and will use the experience he’s gained over the years to produce an exciting community-centered event series. On a rare sunny day in late February, I joined Adams at his studio in NE Portland to talk about his history as an artist and what’s in store for his upcoming RACC project.

Stepping inside Adams’ studio is to become Dorothy, once living in black and white, now fully immersed in the colorful world of Munchkinland. I was curious to hear how Adams' style has changed through the years and he shared that the process is constantly evolving. He begins pointing at different paintings on the wall and explains how each series informed the next. Take the following four collections: Color Bars, Worms, Teardrop, and Gradient.

Color Bars

Worms

Teardrop

Gradient

Color Bars play with spectrum, while Worms become more selective. Colors are further distilled in the Teardrop series until we reach Gradient, where a single color is given rapt attention. With each collection, color is honed further and further until we’re left with the essence of a blood-red sunset.

In fact, the sky played a big role in Adams’ last show, “Abstract Thought” at Chefas Projects. “The sky is a constant source of inspiration,” he tells me. A sunset can provide an almost endless stream of color mixing combinations. And Adams can’t let it go, he’ll return to his studio and meticulously recreate these compositions down to the gram, turning a fleeting moment into something wholly mathematical."

“There’s always a necessity to keep learning,” Adams says and in every phase of work he attempts “to add a new layer of difficulty each time”. For instance, in the Gradient series Adams worked through various materials such as razored cardboard, tape, and finally printed paper cutouts to create the layered blending effect.

Gradient

Not only has Adams evolved in his own style, but he’s also given back to the Portland art world in a big way. A few months ago Adams hosted “WAX: The LP Show” at A Sometimes Gallery where he brought together 50 local artists to represent their favorite album cover. It was the first time Adams curated a show at such scale, although he’d had some practice. A few years ago during the pandemic, Adams and another local artist, Anna Rogers, opened Fishbowl Gallery where they curated 10 shows in a one-year period, featuring around 40 artists in total

His artistic evolution and long history in the community have naturally led him to his next project, and luckily the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) agree with his vision. Adams is one of 275 artists that RACC has selected to support this year through grants.* He’ll use it to host “Art Bar,” a night where 6-8 artists will take over Sad Valley bar in NE Portland to draw, paint, collage and create together.

The inspiration for this event came from a similar pre-pandemic event called “Ink and Drink.” The event holds a special place for Adams as it exposed him to the Portland arts scene in a very organic way. He met other artists, gained inspiration seeing them in action, and made some new friends. In the years that followed, Adams curated shows featuring the artists he met at Ink and Drink and vice versa. He knows firsthand the impact these events have on the arts community and with the help of his RACC grant, he’s ready to carry on the torch.

With Art Bar, Adams isn’t just reviving an old tradition—he’s creating a space where artists can break out of their studios, connect in real time, and find inspiration in each other’s creative energy. Just as Ink and Drink shaped his early experiences in the Portland art scene, Adams hopes Art Bar will do the same for a new wave of artists, fostering collaboration, spontaneity, and community in a way that traditional gallery spaces often can’t.

*https://racc.org/2025/02/20/1-2-million-in-arts-funding-awarded-to-275-portland-artists-and-organizations/