For the better part of 20 years, Jake Kenobi’s existence as a human being has been profoundly shaped by insomnia & sleep deprivation.

NIGHT LIFE probes the dynamic between slumber and mental health, articulating how sleep, or the lack thereof, shapes our lens of the world around us and in us. Jake’s mixed-media paintings take a bird’s-eye view of the halcyon atmosphere in a deathly still bedroom, while conveying the opposing reality happening in one’s restless mind: the outer world is still, the inner world is in turmoil. This collection taps into the isolation & peaceful chaos of insomnia from a healthy distance to put haunting memories on display in a new light. With the ultimate aim of solidarity, NIGHT LIFE allows the border between loneliness & connection to dissolve in the face of vulnerability.

Close-up of an abstract painting featuring a face with a yellow circular element representing a mouth or nose, surrounded by dark and light colors, on a wall.

Gallery wall displaying various abstract and illustrative artworks framed in black, green, and white frames, on a textured white wall.

New to this body of work is Jake’s incorporation of a method learned in therapy for connecting with one’s inner child: drawing with the non-dominant hand. Simplistic, almost cave painting-esque drawings are created with a white charcoal pencil as a means of integrating his wounded, tired inner child with a healing adult. The use of home & houseplant illustrations represent the one place in the world we should be guaranteed to feel safe at any age; in our home, in our room, in our bed. Insomnia takes that away, turning the bed into a place of fear and dread, creating anxiety over the coming day. The deliberate motion of the brush strokes convey such movement in the mind, reflecting time’s forward motion as the clock keeps ticking til morning.

Each painting in NIGHT LIFE allows the darkness of the palette, the surreal, domestic imagery, and the decaying effect of the texture to illustrate sleep’s impact on our mental health & the sense of despair found amidst a restless night. But as with all his work, Jake’s pieces contain elements of hope through healing. NIGHT LIFE acknowledges that no matter what we’ve been (or are currently going) through, everything is temporary, and it is always possible to find our way back to paradise.

Art gallery with framed pictures on a pink wall, a large digital clock displaying 3:33 in red, and a potted plant illuminated by pink and white lights.

Five abstract art fabric pieces hung on a white gallery wall with paint splatters, each featuring simple line drawings and watercolor washes, arranged in a grid with three on top and two below.

A painting of a woman in a white hooded cloak looking at a full moon through a dark window, surrounded by large green leaves and plants, with a house outline and moon in the background.

Art gallery interior with paintings on white walls, a bench, and some black coats hanging on a hook. Artwork includes black and white sketches and colorful pieces featuring figures and nature elements.

Gallery wall with paintings, digital clock, shelf with framed art, potted plant, black chair, and brown leather bench in a modern art space.

Purple Door Gallery

Good Art. Fun space. No Rules. Be You

The Purple Door Gallery, in the heart of Southeast Portland, is more than just a gallery—it’s a space where creativity and individuality take center stage. Established as a pop-up space in 2022, thoughtfully remodeled in 2023, and reopened in June of 2024, The Purple Door remains rooted in both tradition and experimentation. We offer a welcoming environment for artists and visitors to explore, connect, and express themselves freely. The gallery is itself a living, breathing canvas that transforms to every exhibit, becoming part of the artistic vision. At The Purple Door, we celebrate community, curiosity, and the ever-evolving journey of artistic discovery.

Jake Kenobi

Jake Kenobi (b. 1989) is a self-taught painter and mixed media artist based in Bend, Oregon. His work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. West Coast, including solo exhibitions in Bend, Portland, Encinitas, and San Luis Obispo, as well as group shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Bend. He has also participated in juried art fairs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Mexico City, Seattle, and Reno.

His work and practice have been featured in a range of media, including an interview on The Seen Podcast and publications such as Vanity Fair UK, British GQ, Create! Magazine, Visual Art Journal, and Bend Magazine. Jake has participated in artist talks and panel discussions focused on the intersection of art, health, and well-being, including a live interview at The Purple Door Gallery and a panel at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show.

In addition to his studio practice, he has led youth art workshops in collaboration with the High Desert Museum and served as a guest speaker and panelist in Oregon State University–Cascades’ art program. He currently serves as a Founding Board Member of The Open Arts Center, a Bend-based nonprofit supporting multi-generational access to arts programming within the Central Oregon community.