News - Mayer Reed

Mayer/Reed Gallery Artist Profile: Rob Wente

One of the perks of Mayer/Reed’s new studio is a gallery wall for exhibiting the creative pursuits of our incredibly talented staff.

The inaugural exhibit featured the art of Rob Wente, senior designer and prolific painter. Rob’s two featured works, both acrylic on canvas, depict abstract narratives that spark the imagination. The paintings, titled Burning and Yearning Down at the Crossroads and The Arrival (on a Larger Scale), are meant to transport the viewer into a world of their own making. As Wente explains, “They fuse unearthly imagery with titles that ask the viewer to draw their own interpretations of the stories within.”

Burning and Yearning Down at the Crossroads – Rob Wente

Favorites from the sketchbook studies make it to Instagram and a select few are reinterpreted into larger works. In the full-size paintings, Rob continues to layer ideas, paint and what he calls “easter eggs”—hidden details waiting to be discovered by the viewer. He titles the art to hint at the stories they contain, giving viewers a direction for contemplation without fully revealing a meaning. For Rob, each painting is a journey of discovery for both artist and viewer.

City of Possibility

Join us in exploring the past, present and future of Portland. City of Possibility explores the ongoing legacy of Portland’s built environment as seen through architectural models. The model exhibition and related events are happening citywide January 31–March 27, 2025.

We are a proud sponsor and participant of City of Possibility. Look for a Mayer/Reed project on display at the model exhibition at the J.K. Gill Building. Principal Emeritus Carol Mayer-Reed, FASLA, is presenting at Portland’s Next Horizon on February 2, and Associate Principal Shannon Simms, ASLA, is speaking at Streets of Possibility on February 24.

Check out the many opportunities to get involved.

Chasing Rainbows

The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) returns for its 10th anniversary, lighting up the cold winter nights February 7 – 15, 2025. This year, Mayer/Reed is shedding a light on the World’s Smallest Park with our installation, Chasing Rainbows.

Chasing Rainbows is a celebration of the history of Mill Ends Park and an exploration of its future. In 1946, journalist Dick Fagan gazed out his office window and envisioned a leprechaun colony inhabiting a hole meant for a utility pole – sparking a newspaper column, a Guinness World Record and decades of lore.

We see a future where the end of the rainbow is found, right here at Mill Ends Park. Housed within a technicolor beacon glowing softly in the night, a kaleidoscopic portal reveals an infinite treasure hidden in plain sight. Peer inside for a glimmer of what lies within. Can you see the unseeable?

You’ll find Chasing Rainbows illuminated nightly during PDXWLF 2025 from 6pm-10pm.

Kathy Fry Joins AFO Board of Directors

The Architecture Foundation of Oregon (AFO) has appointed Mayer/Reed Principal Kathy Fry to its board of directors. Known for programs such as Architects in Schools, fellowships and design-related events, AFO educates and inspires Oregonians from all walks of life to engage with design of the built environment.

“I’m thrilled to join the board and collaborate with local professionals in support of the AFO mission,” said Kathy. “This is a crucial time to partner with the community, highlighting the impact of design on our future while recognizing the essential role designers play in the health of our cities and state.”

Kathy is a leader in the field of experiential graphic design. She has served on the board of directors and as president of the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) and currently serves on TriMet’s Public Art Advisory Committee.

Kathy joins five new members on the 30-person board.