One of the most celebrated and award-winning set designers in the country lives here in the city.
Michael Curry, the stage props and animated figures for Broadway pieces, international art shows, Olympic opening ceremonies and pop stars such as Pink, Katy Perry and Doja Cat, is Portlander. And even though his design company is in Scappoose, he still spends a large part of his time in Portland.
Curry visited today's Pacific Northwest College of Art (it was then called the Museum Art School and only had 120 students) and worked as a sculptor and painter after graduation. Soon he moved to New York City, where he started the road performance, but not on guitar trumplings. Curry did interactive art.
For one of his more successful actions, he dressed in black and strapped a puppet in front of his body. The deed, called In the afternoon of a PanhandlerCurry consisted of Curry, which went through the city -including the U -Bahn stations -that played a pipe whistle and sing the blues.
“I would make characters and creatures and sculptures that moved and go to the streets of New York,” says Curry. “And there I was discovered by theater producers.”
Curry was scouted by some of the highest minds in the theater.
“I didn't know anything about theater about the highest expression of people who work on it within a room of about two years,” says Curry.
In 2002 he moved his design studio with 63 employees to Scappoose. His company works at the same time with 10 to 12 projects.
He regularly works with Disney, Pixar and Universal Studios, including a lot of work for the Harry Potter Franchise like the Diagon Alley attraction in the themed parks. He worked on various Broadway shows, including the The king of the lions And Frozen. He also creates designs for a huge water show in the United Arab Emirates and other projects in London and China.
Taylor Swift was one of his more well -known customers last year. He created the huge pink fans who flown behind her during the sets on their Eras tour.
Curry says: “We work a lot with female divas.”