Anders Nilsen: Poetry is Useless

The work of Portland-based artist Anders Nilsen defies categorization.  Themes of anatomy, geography, and mythology intertwine in his minimalist artscapes.  The New York Times notable book Big Questions brought the realm of ancient gods down to earth.  The wordless A Walk in Eden, ostensibly an all-ages coloring book, draws the reader into a surreal landscape where odd consumer goods mingle with beguiling flora and curious fauna.  And the sketchbook collection Poetry is Useless brings together abstract drawings, comics, and flights of fancy to weave a meditation on religion and creativity.