Gary Houston

If you’ve ever caught a live show in the Pacific Northwest, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the gritty, evocative work of Gary Houston. For more than two decades, Houston has been a defining voice in the world of concert poster art, crafting distinctive pieces that blend the visceral energy of the music scene with a fine artist’s eye for detail. Operating out of Portland, Oregon, Houston’s posters feel like a throwback to a lost era, yet remain remarkably fresh and relevant. His art, rooted in traditional printmaking techniques, often bursts with frenetic life, thanks to his masterful use of scratchboard, a medium that few modern artists wield with such finesse.

Since 1995, Houston has humbly operated under the moniker of Voodoo Catbox, a well-known entity in the poster industry. He is most well known as the signature artist for The Portland Waterfront Blues Festival, and his unique scratch-board style has become the timeless branding of the festival since 2001. Houston describes the work he does as hands-on, physical, creative, and romantic. “It’s leaving a little bit of history,” Houston told Oregon Music News in 2009.

Houston’s process is painstaking, and that’s what gives his work its signature rawness. Using scratchboard—a rigid surface coated in a layer of clay beneath a thin film of ink—Houston meticulously scratches out his designs, revealing stark, detailed images beneath the black surface. Once the scratchboard image is complete, Houston transfers the design into a screen print, layering vibrant inks one by one. Besides scratchboard, Houston uses other processes. Sometimes he creates an ink drawing, and then there are times when he uses rubylith, a handcut film, to create an image. Houston still handcuts his color separations on a light table, cutting rubylith with an Xacto knife—just trying to keep old school alive.

Houston’s posters have graced the walls of venues for artists ranging from blues legend Buddy Guy to Willie Nelson, The Grateful Dead, and The Black Crowes. His designs often draw from the rich traditions of folk art, influenced by woodcuts and early 20th-century illustration, but always with a modern twist that speaks to the raw energy of rock ‘n roll. His subject matter—skulls, flames, guitars—feels like the visual embodiment of a great guitar riff, something primal and unforgettable. Whether he’s working in bold, monochromatic tones or layered, vibrant colors, Houston’s work hits you hard, just like a great song.