For Jimmy Danko, play isn’t just a childhood memory—it’s a creative force. The Port Orchard-based artist transforms nostalgia, pop culture, and competition into bold, multidimensional paintings that challenge the way we see everyday objects.

His latest exhibition, Monuments of Play, will be on display in the SAM Gallery at the Seattle Art Museum through March 30, coinciding with Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei. Weiwei’s globally renowned LEGO recreations, including a reinterpretation of Water Lilies, will be featured in the museum’s major retrospective. Danko was selected due to his own use of LEGO themes, along with parallels in Americana imagery and well-known brands like Coca-Cola and Rice Krispies.

Originally from Wisconsin, Danko has lived and created art around the world, from Argentina to Los Angeles. Now residing in Port Orchard, he has embraced the Pacific Northwest’s natural surroundings, which remind him of his Midwestern upbringing. “Where I grew up, trees and the woods were everywhere,” he said.

“Coming to the Pacific Northwest, it felt familiar, like a place I could connect with.” He is currently converting his garage into a home studio, where he creates his signature sculptural and multidimensional oil paintings on wood.

Danko’s character Zero, an anthropomorphic basketball, represents his personal connection to both art and athletics. “Zero is an extension of me—almost like a co-pilot,” he said. “He’s where those two worlds meet, where I find joy and relaxation.”

His creative process starts with sketches and photography, often refining compositions digitally before transferring them to canvas or wood panels. “For my LEGO pieces or realistic paintings, I photograph the physical object first and set up a composition to work from,” he said. “For character-based work like Zero, I start in my sketchbook, then bring it into the computer before painting.” His background in graphic design influences his approach, blending digital and traditional techniques.

Danko has collaborated with major brands, including Converse, Lexus, and BattleBots. He was one of the artists selected to create murals for Converse’s flagship store in Santa Monica and painted a large-scale mural for Lexus in Los Angeles, where a documentary crew followed his creative process. “Working with major brands expanded my thinking to a bigger scale,” he said. “It wasn’t about changing my art but realizing how I could bring it to larger audiences.”

His upcoming exhibition Monuments of Play examines the contrast between pure play and structured competition, using visual elements such as LEGO bricks, chalkboard game plays, and colorful blocks inspired by TV test signals. “It’s not about saying one is better than the other—it’s about exploring the different ways we engage with play,” Danko said. “For example, playing basketball just for fun versus playing to win. We don’t always think about how those experiences shape us.”

An artist Q&A and reception will take place March 8 from 2-4 p.m. Entry to the SAM Gallery is free, though museum admission fees apply outside of First Thursdays.

Danko is also in talks for upcoming corporate collaborations and will participate in the Seattle Art Fair in July, with a possible appearance at Scope Miami later in the year.

“This is one of my proudest moments,” he said. “To be a Port Orchard artist showing at the Seattle Art Museum…is truly humbling and exciting.”