Ethereal Reflections: Where Art Meets Community in Portland
Emma Strgar and Lena Vasilenko Tsymbal are reimagining connection through immersive events that inspire creativity, playfulness, and togetherness
Portland, Oregon, has long been celebrated for its artistic pulse and sense of community — a city where creativity thrives in both intimate spaces and grand exhibitions. In this environment, Ethereal Reflections has emerged as a truly unique art and lifestyle events collective, one that invites participants not just to view art, but to experience it.
Co-founded by Emma Strgar and Lena Vasilenko Tsymbal, the collective is as much about creative exploration as it is about forging genuine human connections.
Their approach, focused on immersive events, is refreshingly unconventional. Whether it’s a pop-up gallery that doubles as a communal hub, a murder mystery party where every guest becomes a character or a silent reading night that transforms solitude into shared stillness, every event is crafted with intentionality. For Emma and Lena, it’s about cultivating an environment where art sparks joy, inspires playfulness and, most importantly, connects people in meaningful ways around creativity.
In this conversation, Emma and Lena share their journey — how a single event led to the birth of Ethereal Reflections, their vision for the collective, the magic that happens when art becomes a bridge for community and the importance of connection in an increasingly disconnected world.
Text by Annika Bielig-Bussmann & Emma Strgar and Lena Vasilenko Tsymbal
Imagery courtesy by Nicholas Wilson & Emma Strgar and Lena Vasilenko Tsymbal
Emma and Lena, could you briefly introduce yourselves and share what Ethereal Reflections is all about?
We are Emma Strgar and Lena Vasilenko Tsymbal. Emma owns Tulip Cowboy, a Portland-based floral design studio specializing in experiential, large-scale installations and events. Lena is the founder of the fashion brand Kozha Numbers but has recently shifted her focus to personal art ventures and exploring new creative opportunities.
Together, we co-founded Ethereal Reflections, an art and lifestyle events collective based in Portland. Our mission is to create immersive experiences through pop-up galleries, readings and installations that foster community and connection.
How did the name "Ethereal Reflections" come to life? What meaning and vision do you hope it conveys?
The name Ethereal Reflections originated as the title of our first art show, held in partnership with the Ace Hotel. It resonated with us so much that we decided to keep it as our identity.
To us, Ethereal Reflections means creating experiences that uniquely reflect the community that gathers for each event. While we host a variety of art-centered events — such as gallery exhibitions and painting workshops — we also embrace unconventional experiences like murder mystery parties where guests embody fully developed characters, silent reading nights for quiet communal connection and food sculpture workshops where participants turn edible materials into art.
At the heart of every event is our dedication to cultivating spaces where people can connect authentically, embrace playfulness and simply enjoy themselves. In today’s increasingly digital world, creating such opportunities feels more essential than ever.
When and how did the idea for Ethereal Reflections come about? Was there something missing in Portland you aimed to fulfill?
The idea began in December 2022 when the former Ace Hotel Portland invited us to host an exhibition in their Cleaners space, previously used as a rotating arts venue. We launched our first show, Ethereal Reflections, in January 2023, which marked the beginning of our collective.
Portland has always had a vibrant arts scene, but we felt there was room for a space that not only showcased art but also served as a community hub. Our goal was to create a place where people could connect directly with artists and each other in meaningful ways.
With the variety of events you create, how do you balance it all with your full-time jobs?
We’re fortunate to be full-time entrepreneurs, which gives us the flexibility to focus on growing Ethereal Reflections. Building this collective has been a natural extension of our individual projects, combining our passions and experiences. It allows us to bring together the creative networks we’ve built while opening up new pathways for collaboration, experimentation and connection.
Could you walk us through the journey of organizing one of your events? How long does it typically take to bring a concept to life?
Each event is unique. For collaborative events, we partner with others to craft an experience that leaves a lasting impression. The process begins with an idea — what message we want to convey or what question we want to explore. Some events take months of planning, while others come together more spontaneously.
Your gatherings fill up quickly and often have waitlists. Did you anticipate this level of response?
We hoped for a positive response but were genuinely surprised by the immediate enthusiasm. It reaffirmed our belief that Portland’s community was eager for more intimate, creative spaces. In a world that can often feel isolating, people crave genuine connection.
Our events are designed to be inclusive and approachable, offering environments where people can express themselves freely, connect authentically and embrace creativity and playfulness.
What brings you the most joy in curating these events and installations?
The joy comes from witnessing the genuine connections that form. Seeing people laugh, create friendships and find inspiration is incredibly rewarding. Our goal is to create experiences that bring people together in the moment and leave a lasting impression.
What do you personally gain from the connections made through these gatherings?
We gain an incredible sense of community, inspiration and support. These connections fuel our creativity and remind us why we started this journey.
Looking forward, what’s your long-term vision for Ethereal Reflections? Will gatherings remain local to Portland?
While Portland is our home and central to our identity, we hope to expand Ethereal Reflections to other cities. Our vision is to foster interconnected creative communities and continue elevating artists through collaborative projects.
Lastly, what’s your favorite book and your go-to spot to recharge in Portland?
Lena’s favorite book is The Artist’s Way, and Emma’s recent favorite is The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh. In summer, we love reading outside at Angel Face, and for a cozy recharge, we enjoy Behind the Museum Cafe.
You started in the Netherlands and celebrated your 43rd gathering in April. Are your gatherings solely in the Netherlands or do you have co-hosts in other countries? Yes, it is unbelievable almost: we just hosted our 44th edition, and I believe we’ve had over 350 guests so far! Together with Margot, I’ve organized many joyful editions, and since 2019 I have been hosting them with other friends.Usually they took place at my atelier, but the last couple of years we also traveled around the country to other locations, like the studio of a ceramicist, a concept store, the workshop of a woodworker, a coffee brewery and the atelier of a perfumer. Sometimes I even travel abroad, because I’ve met so many people from all over the world since I started The Gatherists. So far I’ve traveled to London, Copenhagen, Florence and Edinburgh.
This year I am hoping to organize another edition abroad, maybe in Antwerp, Milan or Berlin because I already have connections with people that I’d like to host it with. Let’s see!
When you first started The Gatherists, you all met in your atelier. Now, you invite friends to be co-hosts. Can you share more about the locations where you meet? What is special about the locations, and can people contact you if they think they have a great location? The locations are very important, but to me the most important is the co-host. And if the co-host has a beautiful studio where we can organize our gathering, then that is great! The location must be inspiring and inviting, but I am not hosting them just for the location. All co-hosts have joined an edition of The Gatherists before we plan one together, because that’s how they get a sense of the concept. So, whoever is interested in hosting one with me, I kindly invite you to join an edition first to get the vibe.
How often are the gatherings held? I think it is nice to do them when it suits my calendar. Recently, I moved out of my studio, transforming the concept into a more traveling version rather than hosting them exclusively at my own space. For this year, my goal is to organize six events, but I am flexible and willing to do fewer or perhaps even more if the opportunity arises organically. But still, it gives me a tremendous amount of energy to continue hosting them together with others.
Do you ask that phones and content creation be off limits throughout the gatherings or do you encourage attendees to utilize the gatherings as a time to create content, gain exposure and learn from each other?We don't set rules against using phones or making content at our gatherings. People get so engrossed in conversations that they typically don't think about it. It's nice to put our phones aside for a while and really listen to each other. Everyone is welcome to share what they like.
Your own photography is timeless and detail oriented, bright and inviting. When planning a gathering, do you look for other attendees who match your style and your profession or do you aim to have a mix of different creative fields and styles?
The individuals who are attracted to the idea and the visual appeal come from various professional backgrounds. I appreciate having a diverse group consisting of individuals from different walks of life, both male and female. All that is required is an openness to connecting with others and an appreciation for the concept to become part of this slowly growing community!
