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Murals bring color and energy to Portland's neighborhoods. PEMO works with local street artists, neighbors, and businesses to transition blank walls into micro-murals that help small businesses with tagging and graffiti while supporting community pride.
Bright walls, stronger districts
Across Portland, many small businesses and community buildings struggle with repeated tagging and nuisance behavior. Blank walls and unactivated facades often become hotspots for vandalism, which takes a toll on storefronts, creates extra costs for owners, and affects how people feel walking through a neighborhood. PEMO's mural program helps change that story.
PEMO activates public space to support economic vitality, community safety, and civic pride — and micro-murals are one of our most effective tools. Art brings color and energy to a block, strengthens community identity, and helps people feel more connected to the places they use every day. Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that murals can even help deter crime by increasing positive activity and reinforcing a sense of shared ownership.
Since 2023, PEMO has partnered with the Portland Street Art Alliance and local artists to install micro‑murals on building facades that often experience repeated nuisance behavior. This work has helped stabilize storefronts, support small businesses, and brighten daily travel for residents, visitors, and commuters.
Micro-mural spotlights
It Can't Rain All the Time
- Artist: Damon Smyth
- Location: Broadway Grill & Brewery, NE 17th and Broadway
- Completed: February 2024
The NE Broadway Business Association wanted to revitalize the Lloyd area by using a vacant lot for community events. But a large wall overlooking the area attracted nuisance behavior and added no flair. To change the tone, PEMO worked with Broadway Grill and Brewery, the business association, Metro, and the Portland Street Art Alliance, who commissioned Portland artist Damon Smyth.
"This beautiful, bright mural by local artist Damon Smyth exemplifies the hope we all share for the future of the Northeast Broadway Business District ... The mural beautifies a vacant lot in the heart of our busy business district, creating the perfect spot to host community events, such as festivals, farmer's markets, and local craft fairs..." – Sarah Drescher, NEBBA President
"...My hope is that this mural brings not only beauty to the neighborhood, but also a sense of camaraderie to the business district. We're looking forward to more events in our shared space that bring everyone together ... These community efforts exhibit the best that Portland has to offer – great food, great art, and great people." – Shelly Bigley, Owner, Broadway Grill & Brewery
7 Pillars
- Artist: Askew One
- Location: Washington Center, SW Fourth and Washington
- Completed: Fall 2025
Love. Care. Empathy. Compassion. Dignity. Grace. Stewardship. Those are the core messages of 7 Pillars, the monumental art installation that now graces the walls of the Washington Center in downtown Portland, thanks to PEMO's partnership with the Portland Street Art Alliance, Menashe Properties, and the Metro regional government.
The gigantic new mural, created by internationally renowned street artist Askew One (aka Elliot O'Donnell), covers nearly 20,000 square feet, about half the size of a football field. The project began when O'Donnell witnessed firsthand the toll the pandemic had taken on the streets of Portland and wondered if art could help the city bounce back.
The answer is a resounding yes. The corner that was once the epicenter of the city's fentanyl crisis now stands at the intersection of hope and inspiration.
"The corner of 4th and Washington hits differently now when I pass by — it's impossible not to feel something when you see Elliot's vision come to life on such a key corner in downtown ... This mural has become a symbol of what Portland can be, and we hope it inspires more action, creativity, and momentum across our beloved city. We appreciate our partnership with the City of Portland and PSAA in making this possible." -- Lauren Menashe, Menashe Properties
Brooklyn Bound
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Artist: Devin Finley
- Completed: December 2024
- Location: Heckmann & Thiemann Motors, SE 19th and Powell
Perched above the busy underpass where Powell Boulevard dips below the Union Pacific railway line, Brooklyn Bound features historic landmarks for the Brooklyn neighborhood, such as the iconic Aladdin Theater, the Poulsen House, and the MAX line. The mural also celebrates many other neighborhood residents and landmarks.
The Eastside
- Artist: Daren Todd
- Location: Rosewood Initiative, SE 141st and Stark
- Completed: November 2024
The mission of the nonprofit Rosewood Initiative is to foster a safe, healthy, and vibrant community where neighbors can thrive together. This mural celebrates the vibrant and diverse community of East Portland, where so many stories of resilience and growth take root. Set among a garden of iconic Portland roses and new blooms, the mural honors the strength of immigrant journeys and the pride in the many cultures that shape this community. Though often overlooked and underserved, East Portland continues to strive, thrive, and uplift its members, standing as a vibrant hub of economic growth and opportunity.
"We are thrilled to see this mural come to life! Daren's art brings together an important piece of our growing community hub. It has transformed the outside of our building into a welcoming space that invites community members in, and captures the resilience, diversity, and beauty of East Portland. We have so much gratitude for Portland Street Art Alliance and the Portland Environment Management Office..." – The Rosewood Initiative Team
Ladd's Circle
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Artist: Allison McClay
- Location: SE 20th and Hawthorne
- Completed: July 2024
Ladd's Circle is a homage to the neighborhood that celebrates its people, architecture, and unique charm. The mural features cyclists big and small, as a nod to the Ladd's 500 Bike Ride, a skateboarder, two beloved dogs, a cat, a teddy bear, and the tiniest little bird. Karim, the 7-Eleven franchisee owner, is also featured. The architectural detail in the buildings is stunning as they glow with light. Portland muralist Allison McClay capped off the piece in a translucent yellow frame, mimicking stained glass.