Carling Jackson of Vancouver, Canada is a humanitarian and professional, award-winning athlete portrait artist who primarily focuses on using contemporary art to effect change and make the world a better place. An ex-athlete; Jackson received a full scholarship to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and later transferred to Southern University A&M, a historically Black college in Baton Rouge where she received a Bachelor of Arts in History with a specialization in Black History. During her time at ULL, she became very involved with the NAACP and various organizations cantered around racial injustice and even spoke at the first Black History Month event in Kaplan Parish to calm racial
tension.

A self-taught artist initially inspired by her work with the NAACP in Louisiana, Carling has used her artwork as a platform to raise awareness and fight injustices around the world. From working with Syrian Refugees here in Canada to Save the Children in Brazil, her humanitarian work coupled with her love of sports have created a true niche unlike any other in the art and sports world. A teacher (UBC BEd 2016), humanitarian, artist, and spokesperson for various global issues, Carling Jackson’s award-winning art is just a piece of what makes her such an influential and unique force to combat injustices on a global level.

Carling is also the most commissioned artist by professional athletes in the world. She has painted over 200 pieces for athletes across 17 leagues and 23 countries. She is also the first sports artist in history to paint at a World Cup semi-final and final (For FIFA - Qatar 2022). Jackson is the first sports artist to paint live on field during an MLS game and the first sports artist to paint live at a CONCACAF game. From Olympians to NBA players, her most recent pieces are for ADIDAS Amsterdam and the Reggae Girlz, Norman Powell (Clippers), Zach LaVine (Bulls), and Richarlison (Brazil -- World Cup). She was commissioned to paint a 20ft sports gallery, “Amplifying underrepresented athletes in sports” for the Wynn Hotel in Vegas in 2021. In 2023 Carling had artwork installed permanently inside two stadiums in Canada (NBA and MLS teams). Carling painted at the Paris Olympics for Team USA in 2024.