Meet REAL Guest Artist Bryce Wong

Meet Real Guest Artist Bryce Wong. Interview by John Trippe. Photos by Joe Brook.
Meet Real Guest Artist Bryce Wong. Interview by John Trippe. Photos by Joe Brook.
Did you grow up in Ohio? I grew up in Orange County, California. Irvine to be exact. Love going back down to visit and catch some sun.
Did you grow up in Ohio? I grew up in Orange County, California. Irvine to be exact. Love going back down to visit and catch some sun.
Where does the nickname
Where does the nickname
I saw you went to school in Cincinnati. Did you ever skate D.O.? Did you know that's where the boneless one was invented by Garry Scott Davis? Didn't actually skate much out in Cincinnati. In college I was too afraid of hurting my drawing hands to skate and really started skating more when I lived out in Southern California and was working at Vans.
I saw you went to school in Cincinnati. Did you ever skate D.O.? Did you know that's where the boneless one was invented by Garry Scott Davis? Didn't actually skate much out in Cincinnati. In college I was too afraid of hurting my drawing hands to skate and really started skating more when I lived out in Southern California and was working at Vans.
When you were working at Vans could you skate the Vans park after-hours? I had many good slams in the Vans warehouse after hours! Once the HB park was built, we did early AM donut and skate sessions at the park. Some really good memories down there with some really amazing friends/designer/coworkers. How are you handling the Portland winters? They're not as brutal as Ohio, but much grayer than So Cals! Portland was tough at first but I've learned that leaning into the winter hobbies makes all the difference. So does a good jacket. I definitely appreciate the permasummers that California provides.
When you were working at Vans could you skate the Vans park after-hours? I had many good slams in the Vans warehouse after hours! Once the HB park was built, we did early AM donut and skate sessions at the park. Some really good memories down there with some really amazing friends/designer/coworkers. How are you handling the Portland winters? They're not as brutal as Ohio, but much grayer than So Cals! Portland was tough at first but I've learned that leaning into the winter hobbies makes all the difference. So does a good jacket. I definitely appreciate the permasummers that California provides.
Favorite Portland skatespot? Favorite skate spot in Portland would probably be the Nike SB Skatepark. Not only do I get to skate there but I get to see some of the shoes I design for SB tested there. That Nike park looks like so much fun. If you ever need a buddy to skate with... wink wink. Let's make it happen!
Favorite Portland skatespot? Favorite skate spot in Portland would probably be the Nike SB Skatepark. Not only do I get to skate there but I get to see some of the shoes I design for SB tested there. That Nike park looks like so much fun. If you ever need a buddy to skate with... wink wink. Let's make it happen!
Which galleries here in Portland get you the most excited? Any recommendations? UPFOR is a good one! I forgot what going to galleries is like but I always recommend The Lumber Room if you can get in. It's one of the coolest spots I've been to and I just stumbled in randomly. I'm not a huge gallery person personally but the beautiful thing about Portland is that where there are artists, there are shows. My favorite gallery shows are the ones that are actually artist run parties where there just happens to be art.
Which galleries here in Portland get you the most excited? Any recommendations? UPFOR is a good one! I forgot what going to galleries is like but I always recommend The Lumber Room if you can get in. It's one of the coolest spots I've been to and I just stumbled in randomly. I'm not a huge gallery person personally but the beautiful thing about Portland is that where there are artists, there are shows. My favorite gallery shows are the ones that are actually artist run parties where there just happens to be art.
Who are some of your favorite contemporary artists? I grew up idolizing Retna, Shepard Fairey and Banksy. The street art scene was what got me into illustration. These days, I have a growing list of artist that I love including Murakami, Felipe Pantone, Jeffrey Chung and Jason Revok. You used to tattoo? Not doing it as much these days? Did you used to work as a tattooist or just for fun? The one on your Instagram looks awesome. I tattooed for the last few years in a studio out in Portland. Had a lot of fun and spent many late nights tattooing friends and clients. Unfortunately I shut the studio down at the beginning of Covid. Hoping to get back to it sooner than later!
Who are some of your favorite contemporary artists? I grew up idolizing Retna, Shepard Fairey and Banksy. The street art scene was what got me into illustration. These days, I have a growing list of artist that I love including Murakami, Felipe Pantone, Jeffrey Chung and Jason Revok. You used to tattoo? Not doing it as much these days? Did you used to work as a tattooist or just for fun? The one on your Instagram looks awesome. I tattooed for the last few years in a studio out in Portland. Had a lot of fun and spent many late nights tattooing friends and clients. Unfortunately I shut the studio down at the beginning of Covid. Hoping to get back to it sooner than later!
What's a normal Wednesday like for you? A normal Wednesday can range from work meetings all day to design brainstorms or sketch sessions with coworkers. But usually, it is me hanging with my dog in my home studio getting on the ramp or painting in between zoom calls.
What's a normal Wednesday like for you? A normal Wednesday can range from work meetings all day to design brainstorms or sketch sessions with coworkers. But usually, it is me hanging with my dog in my home studio getting on the ramp or painting in between zoom calls.
Favorite things to do on weekends? Throw a brisket on the smoker and wait 12hrs! First favorite skater? Can't play favorites but anyone in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 has a special place in my heart. What do your close friends know is the weirdest thing about you? I grow my own chickens!
Favorite things to do on weekends? Throw a brisket on the smoker and wait 12hrs! First favorite skater? Can't play favorites but anyone in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 has a special place in my heart. What do your close friends know is the weirdest thing about you? I grow my own chickens!
Speed-round: Frontside or backside? Backside. Lee Ralph or Lee Smith? can't make that call/don't want to! Last trick you learned on your ramp? Frontside smith. Stand up FS grinds or smiths? Can barely do either.
Speed-round: Frontside or backside? Backside. Lee Ralph or Lee Smith? can't make that call/don't want to! Last trick you learned on your ramp? Frontside smith. Stand up FS grinds or smiths? Can barely do either.
Accessorize? Always. Can't stop listening to [blank] these days. Been on a Curtis Mayfield kick. Recommend a book and a podcast? I need to read more. my favorite podcast is Heavyweight with Jonathan Goldstein. Place you're excited to travel to? Traveling to Hawaii in August to get married!
Accessorize? Always. Can't stop listening to [blank] these days. Been on a Curtis Mayfield kick. Recommend a book and a podcast? I need to read more. my favorite podcast is Heavyweight with Jonathan Goldstein. Place you're excited to travel to? Traveling to Hawaii in August to get married!

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