Art Map
At The Carly Estate, every room has a story—and much of it is told through art. Our collection brings together the work of celebrated Northwest artists, intimate photographic moments, and rescued pieces from the remarkable personal archive of Portland collector Leo Michelson, whose eye for emerging talent shaped an entire era of the region’s art scene.
Noriko Saito (b. 1973) is a contemporary Japanese printmaker known for her expressive drypoint etchings—works that feel immediate, intuitive, and full of life. Drawing directly into copper plates, Saito builds her images through dense, energetic lines, creating compositions that are both playful and deeply personal.
Her work often pulls from everyday moments and memories—children’s toys, nature, shifting seasons—allowing objects and symbols to appear instinctively, as if arriving on the page in real time. There’s a sense of movement and spontaneity in each piece, balanced by a careful, tactile process that reflects her connection to both craft and observation.
At The Carly, her piece Hug (right) captures this sensibility in a single, intimate gesture—simple, warm, and quietly expressive.
Seattle-based artist Jen Ament brings rhythm, contrast, and a clean graphic sensibility to The Carly. Her black-and-white linocut prints appear throughout the estate (see above), adding moments of cohesion—from the gallery wall in the main house to corners across the property.
Known for their punchy minimalism, Ament’s works are quiet but impossibly striking, offering a cool, modern counterbalance to the estate’s historic architecture.
Above the central fireplace hangs a striking woodcut by Austrian-born artist Barbara Kuebel. Known for her expressive, large-scale figurative works, Kuebel blends bold color, emotional gesture, and a certain theatrical energy. Two Women in Green grounds the heart of the house—warm, textural, and full of character.
Photographer Jessica Uhler captures small, arresting moments that feel both cinematic and intimate. Her photograph Fallen—a close view of blossoms scattered across the hood of a Porsche—hangs above the blush-pink sofa in the bar area. It’s playful, romantic, a little mysterious, and perfectly suited.
Exploring the Collection
Throughout the estate, you’ll find works that reflect the spirit of Oregon’s creative community—past and present. Some are by established artists, others by emerging voices, and many come from the deeply personal world of Leo Michelson, whose collection was described as “lovingly practiced,” full of instinct, curiosity, and genuine affection for craft.