Profile

Steve Bloom led Portland Japanese Garden as CEO from 2005 to 2024 a tenure that includes his time as CEO of the Garden’s sibling organization and programmatic arm, Japan Institute (established in 2022). Over the course of 20 years, he has transformed not only the landscape of Portland but the international field of Japanese gardens and the global conversation around the art and importance of cultural diplomacy. Through the creation of a Kengo Kuma-designed complex that more than doubled Portland Japanese Garden’s footprint and the creation of a curatorial department –which oversees more than 200 events annually and has kept its grounds in world-class condition – Bloom transformed a beloved yet humble local garden into an internationally recognized leader among gardens and cultural institutions. He was a 2008-09 Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow in Japan and also is a recipient of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To read his full bio, click here.