A Portland native, J.D. Perkin has exhibited his work since 1982. He received a BS from Portland State University in 1984, with a focus on anthropology. While there, he also received an Award of Excellence in Painting from the School of Fine and Performing Arts. Perkin is a multi-disciplinary artist working in sculpture, installation, painting, collage video/animation and performance.  He was a founding member of the performance art groups Steelhead and The Urban Artworkers. He received a grant from Portland's Metropolitan Arts Commission in 1990 for his performance piece Dirt Box. His work has been featured at the Portland International Airport and at the Bush Barn in Salem and is in the Portland collections of the Hotel Lucia, Nordstrom, the Portland Development Commission, and Tin House, Inc.