A unique Portland art studio is proving that creativity knows no boundaries. North Pole Studio is giving artists with disabilities the space and support to pursue their passions. One of their students, 26-year-old Austin Brague, is on the autism spectrum.
Austin specializes in intricate pen-and-ink drawings of urban landscapes, and thanks to the studio’s connections, his talent is being recognized.
He recently designed a bus wrap for the city’s public transportation agency. The studio also gives their artists a chance to exhibit and sell their work, so they can build a career. Austin says his disability enables him to see certain things when he does art. In his words, “being different is actually the real normal.”