Portland’s street murals are easily the most easily viewed example of its rich art culture. Here are some of the best Portland murals to include in your tour when you visit.

1. People’s History of Hawthorne

This mural is a direct dedication to the surrounding Southeast Portland neighborhood. It features depictions of historical and mythical figures who are said to have shaped the neighborhood.

In 2012, artist Chris Haberman painted this piece in order to depict Hawthorne’s history and vibrancy, from hipster to hippy and early farmer to brewmaster. In fact, if you look closely, you can see the people you see wandering around the neighborhood.

2. Women Making History in Portland

Painted in 2007 by Robin Corbo, this mural made history by showcasing the historical accomplishments of Portland women. In other words, it pays tribute to incredible women who have influenced or are currently influencing the city.

You will undoubtedly learn about the women who have changed many lives and improved Portland’s livability.  This 18-foot by 60-foot acrylic painting lists each woman’s name on the bottom left side of the mural.

3. Arte, Música y Amigos

One of seven new plazas licensed by the Portland Department of Transportation and sponsored by Travel Oregon, Arte, Música y Amigos is a 460-foot-by-26-foot-wide, 22,000-square-foot mural painted on the ground.

This mural is inspired by the pandemic, Latin culture, and the artist Frida Kahlo. Among the many colorful and striking elements of the mural is the spiral of piano keys that help bring to life the beautiful street mural. 

4. Keep Your Chin Up

“Keep Your Chin Up” is a mural painted by Blaine Fontana, a local artist, as part of one of the Forest for the Trees events in 2013. It might even be a nice inspiration to keep you moving and thriving each day.

Fontana created this mural to depict the Portland of today. This mural has become a landmark that is loved by both the local community and visitors and helps Portland’s reputation as a creative cultural hotspot. 

5. ReBuilding Center

The mural painting at the ReBuilding Center can be seen near the north end of the building, facing Mississippi Avenue. This area might just seem like any other office space, in the past, but it’s now a must-see site for all.

Forest for the Trees collaborated with local artists to paint the ReBuilding Center mural art, which was a new addition to the neighborhood in 2019. With its vibrant colors, this mural work depicts identities to which many members of the community can relate

6. Attitude of Gratitude

The mural painting of a woman in a grateful pose with over 1,000 plants for hair is a massive advertisement for SolTerra. The artist, Fin DAC, explains in an interview that the woman in the image is a model he has been painting a lot, Marisa Ng, who is based in San Francisco.

The woman in the mural is dressed in an Alexander McQueen gown, while the headdress (the plants) is made up and the rest is computer collaged – much better in person than using your internet for a peek!

7. Community Cycling Center Mural

Another of Robin Corbo’s masterpieces is the Community Cycling Central Mural, which celebrates Portland’s bike culture. Because cycling is such an important part of city life, a cycling mural was exactly what the town needed.

This vibrant work, which adorns the western wall of the cycling center’s retail shop, depicts a whimsical parade of unicycles/bicycles/tricycles, bicycles, and tricycles. A humble reminder that buying a car isn’t always the best choice.

8. Now is the Time, Now is the Place

“Now is the Time, Now is the Place” is one of Portland’s oldest murals, having been painted in 1989. However, the message it conveys about black pride and empowerment is as relevant today as it was when it was painted.

For a brief description, the painting centers on Martin Luther King Jr., who is surrounded by other notable figures. Nelson and Winnie Mandela, South African playwright Selaelo Maredi, and Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad are among those honored.

9. Bad Karma Mural

This ‘statement art’, created by the group Broken Fingaz, is an entry for the Forest of the Trees Mural Festival. It was actually inspired by the group’s personal experience talking with a lot of interesting people who live on Portland’s streets. 

They are well-known muralists whose works frequently incorporate elements of illustration, graphic design, punk culture, and art history. Using their signature style, the crew highlights the blindness that is typically turned to the homeless crisis for this mural.

10. Streaked Horned Lark

As part of the Endangered Species Mural Project, ‘Artists and Craftsman’ collaborated with the Center for Biological Diversity to create this mural of the endangered Streaked Horned Lark.

Artist Roger Peet shared that he hopes that this painting of larger-than-life endangered species in cities across the country will raise awareness of the link between conservation and community strength, pointing out that the diversity of wildlife around people helps define

11. The Musician’s Union Building Mural

If there’s a mural celebrating Portland’s bike culture, there’s also one celebrating the city’s music scene. There goes ‘The Musician’s Union Building Mural’ in Portland’s Northeast District.

The mural depicts the unifying power and diversity of music in the city in stunning color, thanks to the collaboration of Cotter, Diakité, Hernandez, and Shamsud-Din, who incorporate Asian, Latino, and African elements. 

12. Flowering Legacy of the Civil Rights Leaders

Hector Hernandez, a painter and anthropologist, created this striking tribute to social activism in Southeast Portland, titled “Flowering Legacy of Civil Rights Leaders.”

A Portland rose with petals depicting the faces of civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Chief Joseph, Cesar Chavez, and Mahatma Gandhi are featured in the mural project.

Flora and fauna are symbols of the struggle for wellness, health, and social well-being for Hernandez, whose influences include Mexican and Japanese art.

13. A Place Called Home

This mural in the PDX north pedestrian tunnel honors the people, history, and natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest.

Several Portlanders depicted in the mural were present, including native elder storyteller Ed Edmo, blues musician Norman Sylvester, and Rose Festival Queen Mya Brazile.

The PDX mural is part of the Port of Portland’s larger art program, and in addition to depicting city life, it also helps to create space for a variety of artists working in various mediums.

14. Ladies Up Project

Morrison Place’s Ladies Up Mural Project is a mural space that is part of a unique donation-based community mural program.

This is a collaboration of emerging local female-identifying artists and artists of color.

The paintings in this area range from a fearless tiger to messages of unity. You can find all of the murals along S.E. Alder Street

15. Western Meadowlark

A beautiful mural by artist Stefan Ways, featuring a rainbow cactus with a Western Meadowlark at its center, sits outside the doors of The Q Center on N. Mississippi, the largest LGBTQ community center in the Pacific Northwest.

Ways claims that he chose a rainbow cactus as a symbol for the LGBTQ community. It represents the community’s thick skin, and their ability to survive harsh environments.

16. Woodstock Mural

This mural, which was relocated to the western wall of New Seasons in 2015, is dominated by commerce, education, and the outdoors. 

If you look closely, you’ll notice mythological symbols like a winged hat, an olive branch necklace, and a lotus staff scattered throughout. In honor of the elementary school’s immersion program, the Woodstock motto, seen behind the young student, is translated into Mandarin.

17. Rhinoceros Mural Wall

This community favorite, this life-like mural was painted in 2015 for the annual Forest For The Trees mural event by artist Josh Keys.

Leaning on this friendly-looking beast makes for a great photo opportunity, especially for tourists, animal lovers, and children. This artwork can be found just outside of ‘There Be Monsters.’

18. White Doves

For the 140th anniversary of Chown Hardware, this mural titled “White Dove” was created.

Artist David Rice and the Chown family collaborated to create the imagery that would serve as a memorial to Eleanor Chown and her late husband. 

The doves were purposefully chosen to match a pair of ornamental doves owned by the couple. And the flowers, Anthurium, were a favorite of Eleanor’s.

19. Botjoy

Gary Hirsch started the botjoy movement in 2010 by painting a robot on a domino. The small painted robots are designed to encourage, recognize, and celebrate those who receive them.

Hirsch has painted 15 different murals around the world, in addition to thousands of painted dominos. Many of these massive works of art can be found in Portland, Oregon.

20. Art Fills the Void!

The mural painting of a giant banana (possibly a play on the group’s name, Gorilla Wallflare) is Portland’s oldest mural still standing. It was created by the group in 1982.

It wasn’t a commissioned piece, but the owner loved it and kept it up, making it one of the classic Portland murals that many people remember fondly. It has recently been renovated with the assistance of neighborhood and community groups.

21. Owl on Lowbrow Lounge

Both artist Ashley Montague and the owner of The Lowbrow Lounge agreed that an owl would be the most appropriate symbol for this long-standing part of Portland’s downtown. It was always the artist’s intention to create movement and speed through the mural.

If you look closely, you won’t be able to identify this owl because Montague combined elements from several species to create one unique bird.

22. Do It Best Hardware Mural

This mural is part of the “Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project” called “Working Makes Me Important.” 

The art empowers a diverse group of day laborers and immigrants through leadership development, organizing, education, and economic opportunity—all depicted in the mural. 

The piece was also printed on posters and postcards.

23. Everything is Everything

Zach Yarrington created the famous “Everything is Everything” mural. He’s a Portland-based artist and typographer with work all over town. 

His phrases, which he expresses through mural painting, are intended to send a positive message to the people around him.

Yarrington worked on the mural “Keep Your Chin Up,” which we mentioned earlier.

24. Great Egret

Vox Siren, Black United Fund of Oregon, and Portland artists Mehran Heard and Jeremy Nichols collaborated in 2014 to create this 25-by-100-foot mural honoring historically significant black women.

The mural, which is located in NE Alberta and has undergone significant gentrification, features Coretta Scott King, Angela Davis, Ruby Bridges, Maya Angelous, and Ruby Dee.