Originally from Chicago, Julian V.L. Gaines now lives and works in Portland, Oregon. He received his BFA in Painting from Northern Michigan University in 2015. As a painter, Gaines’ artwork addresses activism, education, and tells stories that need to be told.  He collaborated with Nike to create the collection “Game Worn”. As part of the sneaker release, he led a weeklong workshop that included art classes at Chicago’s South Shore Cultural Center. Gaines has received editorials from Northern Magazine, HYPEBEAST, and The New York Times. In December 2020, his artwork was featured on the cover of New York Magazine. His work has been exhibited at Art Basel, the Seattle Art Fair, and featured in an exhibition with Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects in New York.  His artwork is in numerous private and corporate collections, as well as the collection of the Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR.