Portland’s Neon Legacy Lights Up Downtown
PORTLAND, OREGON
A new expansive mural evoking everything Portland now shines bright along Ankeny at the corner of SW 4th and SW Ankeny, on the exterior of the U.S. Bancorp Tower (a.k.a. “Big Pink”) parking garage in downtown. The 120’ long mural, titled Radiance, is the vision of the muralist dream team KSRA and They Drift. The artist duo recently relocated to Portland from Seattle and were excited for the chance to paint this statement piece in their new hometown.
Drawing inspiration from local commercial and public art, Radiance features neon signs from quintessential neighborhood locales interspersed with iconic Portland statuary. The neon signs were painted by artist KSRA, who along with being a talented muralist, creates miniature neon signs in a mixed media diorama-style both as a gallery artist, and in her day job at Laika Studios. The statuary was masterfully recreated by muralist and abstract portrait artist, They Drift (a.k.a. Carlos Aguilar).
“When Unico Properties and PSAA approached us to represent Portland’s historical neon and sculpture landmarks at Big Pink, we were thrilled. It’s been an honor to celebrate the craftsmanship of the artists that created these works.” – KSRA & They Drift
The first piece of neon in Radiance honors Portland’s 3rd oldest continuously operated bar, the nearby watering hole, Kelly’s Olympian (426 SW Washington), which has been serving Portlander’s since 1902. Overlapping the Kelly’s Olympian sign is the head of one of the dragon statues that grace the Chinatown Gateway, entrance to Old Town/Chinatown, located just across Burnside nearby. Behind the dragon statue is the now retired Made in Oregon neon sign that graced the west end of the Burnside Bridge from 1997 to 2010.
The next piece of public art featured is the Skidmore Fountain, a National Historic Landmark located two blocks to the south of Big Pink. The Skidmore Fountain was designed by sculptor Olin Levi Warner and dedicated in 1888. Wrapping around the massive wall is the iconic neon sign from another Big Pink neighbor, the Portland Outdoor Store (304 SW 3rd), which recently celebrated its 100th year in business in downtown Portland. The Portland Outdoor Store's bold “Portland” neon awning has welcomed visitors since the 1940s.
On the right side of the mural, the new rose neon from neighboring Waterfront Park shines bright; a beacon of the “Rose City.” Anchoring the right section of the mural is Raymond Kaskey’s instantly recognizable Portlandia statue (circa 1985). Behind Portlandia, the legendary Voodoo Donuts sign glows brightly. Voodoo’s iconic neon sign can be seen across the street from the new mural.
The final neon sign featured in the mural is the beloved Palms Motor Hotel sign (3801 N Interstate), a building which is now being used as a homeless shelter. At a towering 50’ high, the Palms Motor Hotel is arguably Portland's most recognizable neon sign masterpieces, with its tropical flare, monkeys, coconuts, and flashy mid-century feel. Strict sign codes enforced by the city, high maintenance costs and a steady decline in ‘mom and pop’ shops have sadly drastically reduced the number of neon signs over the past 50 years, but somehow, this iconic neon from the 1950s has survived intact, for now.
This mural is part of a collective effort to revitalize and expand Ankeny Alley in downtown.
“Since the pandemic, this area of downtown has really suffered. Over the last year we, alongside our neighbors, we collaborated with the City of Portland to make Ankeny Triangle a beautiful, walkable, must-see destination for locals and visitors alike. This mural is one of the many actions we have taken to help revitalize Portland – we are doing our part to bring Ankeny Triangle into the next phase of vitality with this beautiful and highly engaging piece of art. The wall, along the parking garage across from U.S. Bancorp Tower serves as a perfect canvas for this quintessentially Portland and vibrant, cultural expression of joy.” - Keren Eichen, Unico Properties Director of Real Estate Services
"The public-private partnership that painted roses and rainbows and lit street trees along Ankeny exemplifies Portland's resilience. Showcasing the city's vitality, this vibrant new mural features Portland's iconic landmarks." – Anne Hill, City of Portland’s Portland Environment Management Office
Muralist They Drift speaking at the mural unveiling event, hosted by Unico Properties and the City of Portland
Radiance was unveiled on December 11th 2023, with KSRA & They Drift in attendance, along with fellow artist Fez BeGaetz, whose spiraling neon flower sculpture, called “Helianthus Enorme,” is perfectly positioned next to the mural at the entrance to Ankeny Alley.
