Carling Jackson
A native of Vancouver, Canada this humanitarian and professional athlete portrait artist whose primary aim as a contemporary artist is to “paint the change I wish to see in the world.” Her athletic background revolves around soccer or futbol; the sport she committed 20 years of her life to.
Changing game plans
Carling fell in love with the beautiful game of soccer at age 4, made her Provincial team at age 15 - and attended her first Team Canada Camp that same year. She received a full scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette later transferring to Southern University A&M graduating with a BA in history with a specialization in black history. Chronic injuries plagued the rest of her career, ending in an early retirement. Jackson then began to work within the scope of her second passion – the arts.
More than an Artist
A self-taught artist, she has since used her artwork as a medium to raise awareness and fight injustice around the world initially inspired by her work with the NAACP in Louisiana to fight racial injustice and systemic oppression. She has done artistic works with and for different oppressed and minority populations from Syrian Refugees in Canada to street children in Brazil. She has worked with Save the Children, Street World Futbol, War Child, OVERTIME sports, the Street Child World Cup, Shakti Caravan India and the United Nations. Carling also graduated with a second degree (in Education) in 2016 specializing in social justice, history and art.
Uniting passions
Returning to her athletic roots within her work she is now a full-time athlete artist for athletes in the NBA, MLS, MLB, WNBA, European Premiership League Bundesliga, NWSL, NFL, etc.
The Athlete Artist
As an athlete artist who’s painted commissioned artwork for over 200 athletes from 22 countries and 18 leagues around the world, Carling’s dedication to creating custom pieces which encapsulate athletes’ visions make her both unique and universally recognized around the world. She was the first artist in World Cup history to paint at a World Cup (Qatar 2022). She has also recently create pieces for two stadiums. The Toronto Raptors 2019 Championship piece inside Scotia-bank Area and a portrait of the first ever Indigenous professional soccer player Terry Felix for BC place. Carling painted live on field at BC place during an MLS game for the Whitecaps and works with CONCACAF as their sports artist on different initiatives. He recent custom pieces were for Sha’Carri Richardson (fastest woman in the world), Gianluca Busio (Venezia FC), Coach Mark Budzinzki of the Bluejays and Norman Powell (LA Clippers).
