short bio

Raised in a magic shop in a rural, multi-ethnic family, Kameron Messmer’s unique perspective is channeled through his genre defying art. Recently, he has earned praise as Portland's "Best Balloon Artist" for his mind and heart expanding sculptures which are not only colorful, eye-catching creations but serve as much needed interventions of JOY in these heavy and difficult times. 

bio

 Long Bio:
Kameron Messmer is a lifelong and multidisciplinary and multifaceted artist with a background in music, creative writing, sideshow and fire work, magic, comedy, live performance, balloon sculpting, and generally being a large child. 


Kameron grew up working in his family’s variety store business that specialized in things like:  magic, juggling, clown supply, wigs, costumes, and tuxedos, in Billings, Montana. Being surrounded by the variety art world made him a multidisciplinary artist, where he learned different skill sets over many years.


His art experience includes magic, comedy, various juggling skills, balloon sculpting, sideshow arts, improv, clowning, puppets, guitar, ukulele, drums, creative writing, and poetry. 


Kameron has years of ministry experience with children through teaching Sunday school, children's church, Vacation Bible School, camp counseling, daycare, and work in the church’s nursery. Although no longer a practicing member, growing up in a religious and multiethnic family in a rural area gave Kameron a unique perspective on art, religion and racism.


Kameron has had years of experience owning and operating family oriented businesses such as a toy and game store, Chocolate covered bacon food cart, chocolate covered waffle cart, Cotton Candy and concession business, and  an arcade and party venue. Kameron's artistic life has always been wrapped up in business, kids, family and religion.


After selling his arcade and party venue, Kameron left his hometown of 35 years. He moved to Portland in hopes of starting his performance career as a variety entertainer nicknamed: “Daredevil Circus Wizard” shortly before the Covid-19 Pandemic. 


An online balloon artist facebook page urged balloon artists around the world to build something in their yard to bring joy to the world in the scary and unsure time of the pandemic.
Kameron had an abundance of balloons from a past business so he decided to make a large balloon sculpture in his Aunt and Uncle’s yard. Kameron had been living in a small trailer on his family's property along with his partner after being under-housed for years.  


A few large scale balloon sculptures Kameron built caught the attention of several businesses, organizations, individuals, magazine publications, news channels and Newspaper publications, and his new art career was born.


Like many, Kameron suffers from depression, and knows the importance joy and laughter brings. For Kameron, especially during the pandemic, the best way to spread joy is with balloons. Each display of color and life causes ripples of smile to radiate out into our beautiful yet scary world. 


With the background of art, music, performance, business, religion, writing, Kameron hopes to bring joy, honesty, and understanding to the world. His goal is to unite people through art, and give people who might otherwise have differing perspectives of the world, opportunities to share experiences through art.



“I think the saddest people always try their hardest to make people happy because they know what it’s like to feel absolutely worthless and they don’t want anyone else to feel like that.”


― Robin Williams