MURAL DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS
SINCE 2018, PSAA has worked to build partnerships to “seed” a new Mural District in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID). The goal was to work with a diverse group of regional artists to create a world-class art destination, one that was grassroots and ushered in by the local arts community.
What Keep us Together by Oliver Casillas. Part of the Viaduct Arts initiative
Thanks to a Oregon Community Foundation Creative Heights Grant, in 2020, PSAA officially launched the Central Eastside Mural District initiative. To kick off the initiative, PSAA hosted an open call to artists across Oregon. A selection committee was formed consisting of prominent members of the local arts community, community advocates, and curators.
A group of veteran artists mentored the new artists..
With the help of community partners and news outlets, PSAA received nearly 200 applications from artists from around the state of Oregon. Five foundational murals were painted in the summer of 2020 by artists Oliver Casillas, Maria Rodriguez, Cloe Ashton, Francisco Morales, and Nia Musiba. A graffiti production by graffiti crew VRS was also supported by the OCF grant. Since then, the Mural District has blossomed into a hub to see vibrant public art. Every year brings something new! As they always have, artists continue to express themselves in the Central Eastside Mural District, painting new murals and productions. Even though we have produced a lot of murals in the district, PSAA is by far not the only creatives putting up work. There is a lot to explore! Below are just a few of the murals PSAA has helped to make happen.
FEATURED PSAA MURALS
SUPPORT WORKING ARTISTS
Right at the beginning of the Central Eastside Mural District has is mural championing working artists near and far.
Known as a creative hub, the Central Eastside plays host to Portland’s hard-working visual artists, makers, musicians, photographers, craftspeople, chefs and more. Amidst the challenges that face Portland today, artists remind us of the beauty and passion that continue to make this city a great place to live.
For many years, Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) has wanted to celebrate the artists that make the Central Eastside such a vibrant and exciting place to be. In 2023, PSAA secured a grant from Travel Portland to create a massive mural honoring this creative spirit.
CREATION: 2023
LOCATION: SE Clay and MLK
ARTISTS: Never Satisfied and ERAS
SPONSORS: Travel Portland, Prosper Portland, Central Eastside Industrial Council, Montana Cans, Miler Paint
TAYLOR ELECTRIC
In 2018, PSAA launched our flagship Community Art Project, called the Taylor Electric Project at the Electric Blocks. Taylor Electric is a collaborative, open-air curated street art gallery that features ever-evolving work by 100s artists. For over a decade, the ruins of the Taylor Electrical Supply Company, became a Portland nexus of local, regional, and national graffiti and street art following a fire that left only the burnt-out husk of walls, a perfect canvas for street art within Portland’s ever-changing Central Eastside District. In 2015, what remained of the building was demolished but with the support of Killian Pacific, PSAA has created a haven for street art once again. Through the seasons, various events use this space to host community gatherings, including the Winter Lights Festival, Portland Flea, Portland Night Market and more!
CREATION: 2018 - Present
LOCATION: 1615 SE 3rd Ave.
ARTIST: Various, Rotating
SPONSORS: Killian Pacific, Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, RACC
J. Brown Remembrance In Paint
A powerful memorial wall celebrating Portland graffiti advocate, Jason “J.” Brown (1970-2011), former owner of New American Casuals (NAC) a pioneering Portland streetwear shop that was located in the Central Eastside. In the early 2000s, J. Brown’s advocacy work helped push the City of Portland to loosen its restrictive mural laws and the site pushed the city’s boundaries during a difficult time for public art. This mural was created in partnership with Jaymeer (art director of Burnside Skatepark) and over 20 renowned graffiti artists from across the country. “J. Brown Remembrance In Paint” was painted in a classic graffiti production style and is fittingly located just blocks away from NAC’s original location at 326 SE Morrison St.
CREATION: 2022
LOCATION: 66 SE Morrison St.
ARTISTS: Jaymeer & more
SPONSORS: Metro, Albert & Elaine Borchard Foundation
CENTRAL EASTSIDE HISTORY MURAL
PSAA worked with three lead artists, Devin Finley, Jeremy Nichols, Dan Lee and nearly 20 regional graffiti artists to paint a 12,000 sq ft mural dedicated to the nautical history of the Central Eastside Industrial District of Portland. In May and June of 2021, three local artists, Jeremy Nichols, Devin Finley, and Dan Lee, showcased their skills, painting a mural honoring this unique Portland neighborhood. Working closely with a team of professors from Portland State University, including Dr. Carl Abbott, famed Portland historian and Dr. Hunter Shobe, cultural geographer and member of Portland Street Art Alliance’s Board of Directors, PSAA gathered historical research to help inform the content of this mural.
CREATION: 2021
LOCATION: 211 SE Yamhill St.
ARTISTS: Jeremy Nichols, Devin Finely, Dan Lee & more
SPONSORS: Prosper Portland, Central Eastside Industrial Council
LADIES UP
This project includes a line-up of all female-identifying local artists. Female/femme/non-binary artists are highly underrepresented when it comes to overall access to painting in public space. As a result of this gender inequity, not all perspectives and stories are being told in our artistic landscape. Located behind Nostrama, this mural project is a one of a kind in the city. The first phase of Ladies Up was completed in 2020 and featured: Tatyana Ostepenko, Salomée, Amaranta Colindres, Isis Fisher, Kyra Watkins , Sunny Beard , Laura Medina, Angela Saenz, and N.O. Bonzo. The second phase in 202 features: Villatose, Lynsee Sardell, Bernadette Little, and Bre DePriest. Two previous murals were organized by Forest For The Trees, painted by artists Shawna X and Laura Berger.
CREATION: 2020-2022
LOCATION: 1401 SE Morrison St.
ARTISTS: Various, Rotating
SPONSORS: Killian Pacific
VIADUCT ARTS
Working closely with community partners, PSAA worked for several years to “seed” a new mural district in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District, one that was rooted locally with regional artists.
The goal of the Viaduct Arts initiative was to promote more inclusive engagement and access to public art-making in the city. This initiative helped drive the Central Eastside Mural District into the public sphere and gain regional attention to the collection of vibrant public art in this part of Portland.
During this project 8 mew murals were created and the Central Eastside Mural District was born!
CREATION: 2020
LOCATION: Hawthorne/Morrison Viaducts
ARTISTS: Oliver Castillas, Nia Musiba, Francisco Morales, Cloe Ashton, Maria Rodriguez, VRS
SPONSORS: OCF
SALT & STRAW COMMUNNITY ART PROJECT
PSAA’s community art project at Salt & Straw’s Production Kitchen in the Central Eastside Mural District wraps around this massive warehouse. In December of 2021, 17 artists from Portland & Seattle came together to wrap the nearly 7,000 sq ft building in a confectionery dreamland!
All artists worked with aerosol spray paint over a 3 week period to transform their portion of the warehouse walls. Artists had the freedom to paint what they pleased, but were asked to keep a loose color scheme and an ice cream and candy theme in mind.
CREATION: 2021
LOCATION: 110 SE 2nd Ave.
ARTISTS: Various, Rotating
SPONSORS: Private Donors
MT. WHITNEY BLOCKS
This project features 16 rotating walls. Artists are provided creative freedom as they continued to hone their skills and practice new techniques. Each artist was given a section of the building that wraps around SE 11th & Alder.
Subjects range from fun scenes, to stories of the past, friendly reminders and themes of identity and culture. One permanent mural at this site is “Ending / Never Ending” by visiting artist Fatima Al Sharshani of Qatar. In 2021, Year of Culture paired with JEDARIART, to bring Qatari muralists to the US.
CREATION: 2021 - Present
LOCATION: 610 SE 10th Ave.
ARTISTS: Various, Rotating
SPONSORS: North Rim