Hey, I'm Nick Mendez
(they / them)
![a beautiful, colorful portrait of the Portland-based artist, photographer and filmmaker](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/666b5ec1df779d25240b2000_Nick%20Mendez%20June%2024%20Optimized.jpg)
![new york chinatown](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c45c945efeb66cea77_new%20york.jpg)
My family and I are from Flushing, Queens, NY
My dad was a New York Street Photographer, and a dark room technician
![the artist as a child with his dad](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c5ea1bb75d83010044_dad%20and%20me.jpg)
![the world trade center](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c49d0fa4d5bfe471a2_world%20trade%20center.jpg)
He was very good at it.
![a white and pink flower against a black background](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c514ca6d2393922bda_dads%20flower.jpg)
![bird lady](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c41b46800766628825_bird%20lady.jpg)
When he died, I inherited a Nikon F2, a Honda Civic LX, an unfulfilled dream and a severed identity
![my grandma](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c4a1821b6fdcb8599b_grandma%20smile.jpg)
![the artist as a baby with his nana](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c44ae1b8beb6d2f339_nana%20grandma%20and%20me.jpg)
I know my family would be very proud of everything I've learned and made.
I have a photo studio in SE Portland, Oregon.
![my neighborhood](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c4f83949f6a7365727_se%20portland.jpg)
I love this city, and running a business here.
![rose gardens](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd5095269ef040d2ecf5ec_NAM92418.jpg)
![pro wrestling match](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c43b3f80189836b385_wrestling%20lock%20up.jpg)
I also love pro wrestling.
I did it for The Rock.
Stay safe out there, friend.
![I love you Esther](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5c8981a17456ff19a14191cb/63fd26c4df018de4c96b4b7c_grandma%20coffee.jpg)