MIDTOWN BEER GARDEN MURAL
Portland, Oregon
A colorful mural graces the Midtown Beer Garden in downtown Portland. Commissioned by CareOregon in celebration of their 30th year “making healthcare work for absolutely everyone.” This uplifting mural features a collection of characters enjoying a sunny day in the Rose City.
Springing from the whimsical mind of illustrator Jax Ko, the mural is a celebratory and playful depiction of diverse Portlanders thriving in our green city. Nestled amongst the food carts below, larger-than-life figures bustle through an imaginative landscape where everything is alive: a field of flower friends, a giant dog (based on Jax’s tiny 8-pound pup), cascading cherry blossoms with cheerful faces, and two iconic Portland bridges donned with fancy footwear—naturally.
“This was by far my largest project to date; hundreds of hours painting, 3-stories of scaffolding, lots of lessons learned. I really enjoyed my time working at the Midtown Beer Garden. I got to know quite a few of the cart owners, and it became our daily ritual of chit chatting, having lunch, touring the mural site, and being in a community. During this incredibly hard time in the world, it brought me comfort to be in a diverse community and it makes me so proud to represent that, large-scale; in the heart of downtown Portland. I hope that the mural uplifts, inspires, delights, and reflects the hope I have for our city to continue to equitably embrace diverse voices and representation.” - Jax Ko, Muralist
This project was our first mural commission with Jax Ko and they did a stellar job! It was amazing to watch Jax “go big” and to see such a skilled group of assistants come together to complete this project. PSAA hopes that this new piece of public art makes people smile and invites them to take a moment to enjoy and appreciate all the fun, relaxing, and beautiful things downtown Portland and Oregon has to offer.
PSAA was honored to work with CareOregon, the Midtown Beer Garden, Northwest Scaffold, and our friends at Hail Creative on this public art project in downtown Portland. We were delighted to partner with this property owner as well, as they have been longtime supporters of PSAA’s Community Art Projects.
UNVEILING CEREMONY
Muralist Jax Ko speaking at the unveiling of their mural at the Midtown Beer Garden in Downtown Portland.
In spring of 2024 an unveiling event took place at the Midtown Beer Garden. The event included a dedication by CareOregon, and speeches by PSAA’s Executive Director Tiffany Conklin, and Muralist Jax Ko.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jax Ko is a Portland-based Illustrator, Muralist, and Professional Crybaby. Their distinctive illustrations reflect their personal style: cheeky, expressive, and vibrant. With a focus on reimagining AAPI representation, they draw inspiration from their own experiences as a bicultural American-born Korean raised by a single mother in Southern California. They use their unique perspective to create playful characters that feel like specific individuals rather than broad representations of groups. They have worked with ACLU Oregon, Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, Prosper Portland, Portland Trail Blazers, and a slew of independent businesses.
