Portland Artisan Crafts Custom Ventriloquist Dummies
A local creator keeps the historic art of puppetry alive by hand-building complex figures from his studio.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Puppetry
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Austin Phillips has spent a decade manufacturing and restoring ventriloquist dummies from his workspace in Portland. The 33-year-old artisan produces high-end figures used by performers and collectors across the country.
Why it matters
The profession preserves a niche performance art form that gained massive American cultural relevance during the mid-20th century. By combining traditional puppetry with modern materials, Phillips ensures these complex mechanical figures remain available for professional entertainers.
Phillips manufactures 40 to 50 dummies annually, with prices spanning from a $700 entry level to over $12,000 for custom-likeness commissions. Only 15 percent of his total customers are active performers.
The players
Austin Phillips
A 33-year-old Portland-based artisan who has spent a decade professionally manufacturing and repairing ventriloquist puppets.
NBC
The broadcast network that featured dummies provided by Phillips in their television drama The Hunting Party.
The details
Working from the State Theatre building, Phillips constructs his figures by pouring epoxy resin into custom molds for faces and bodies. He then installs intricate brass rod and lever systems to animate facial movements, a process that reflects his 10 years of professional experience.
Timeline
1930s and 1940s: Charlie McCarthy rose to prominence with American audiences.
1990s: Austin Phillips received his first dummy as a child.
2000s: Jeff Dunham achieved mainstream success as a ventriloquist.
2026: The current year of operation.
Industry Dynamics
This craft sustains a niche segment of the entertainment industry that relies on the historical legacy established by performers like Charlie McCarthy. By serving both hobbyists and modern television productions, the studio bridges the gap between historical puppetry and contemporary media demand.
Fans of ventriloquism can access these professional-grade figures through direct commissioning, though they should expect to budget between $700 and $12,000. While most clients are collectors, the availability of these custom tools supports the ongoing creation of performance art on television.
The takeaway
The sustained demand for high-end ventriloquist figures demonstrates that classic physical puppetry remains a viable professional niche. For those interested in the craft, the combination of resin casting and precision brass soldering represents the modern standard for creating lifelike movement.
Further reading
Discover more about the evolving landscape of Puppetry and how artists continue to innovate within this specialized field.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
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