The amount of street art going up in cities around the world is simply staggering, so you might think finding it would be easy, but strangely that’s not the case. It’s always a lovely surprise when you come around the corner and are greeted by a larger than life mural, but with limited time in a city wandering aimlessly and hoping to get lucky just won’t do.
Artist: Kevin Ledo Portland Oregon
As luck would have it I noticed the reflection of this Kevin Ledo mural in another building.
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Street Art Scavenger Hunt
I think of finding street art as a giant scavenger hunt. I use clues from Google searches and Instagram to try and work out where I can find multiple murals or a specific piece within a city. Still, I can’t tell you how many times we have walked right by a piece, or simply can’t find it at all. I will even admit that I’ve walked within feet of amazing art, and never knew it was there until it was too late.
Artist: Faith47
I found this Faith47 piece just prior to leaving the city, it was around the corner from my hotel.
Once I do find a piece it’s not always easy to work out the artist’s name, but I will always do my best to share with you not only the artist’s name, but the mural’s exact location.
Artist: Unknown 125 NW 4th
During our recent visit to Portland we visited art in four different neighborhoods, including, Downtown Portland, The Alberta Arts District, the Central Eastside and SE Division.
Artist Unknown Invader?
Bad lighting, fencing, trash, dumpsters and parked cars can all get in the way of snapping an unobstructed photo of street art murals. Still, I was able to “collect” a large amount of art on this trip, and if you can believe it these are just the photos I deemed acceptable for sharing.
Pasteup Wall Portland Oregon
Street Art Walking Tour
To help make my Portland street art scavenger hunt successful I reached out to the Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) and arranged a walking tour in the Central Eastside Industrial District. Unfortunately it was 95 degrees out the day of our tour, making it difficult to stop and enjoy the art, but we did our best.
Artist Unknown
During my visit I learned of Forrest For the Trees a nonprofit organization that organizes and facilitates public art in the city of Portland. You’ll find a gallery of murals on their website, however the locations and murals aren’t listed together…
Downtown Portland
Artist: Rone
Location: SW 12th Avenue
Artist: Rone Portland Street Art
Artist: Michael Reeder
Location: NW 12th & SW Stark
Artist: Michael Reeder
Artist(s): Troy Lovegates & Paige Wright
Location: NW 12th & SW Stark
Artist: Troy Lovegates & Paige Wright
Artist: Unknown (#handyeyemovement)
Location: Glisan Street
Artist: Unknown
Artist(s): Caratoes & Smithe
Location: NW 4th & NW Everett
Artist(s): Caratoes & Smithe
Artist: Ashley Montague
Location: 11th & Hoyt
Artist: Ashley Montague
Artist: Kevin Ledo
Location: SW 2nd & SW Stark Street
Artist: Kevin Ledo Portland Oregon
Artist: Unknown
Location: Dante’s W Burnside & NW 3rd Street
Keep Portland Weird
Central Eastside Industrial District
Location: South of I-84 to Powell and the Willamette River to SE 12th.
Though still very much an area of industry the Central Eastside is also dotted with hip eateries, trendy bars, and one-of-a-kind shops. It’s also a hotspot for murals!
Central Eastside Industrial District Portland Oregon
Artist: Fin DAC
Location: SE Division & SE 10th Avenue
Artist: Fin DAC
The Taylor Electric Project
Curated by: The Portland Street Art Alliance
Artists: Multiple
Location: Parking Garage 240 SE Clay Street
Our tour started here write about what it is…
Artist: Ben Patterson
Artist: Suhaib Attar & Ernesto Maranje
Location: SE 10th Avenue & SE Washington Street
Artist(s): Plastic Birdie & Ape Seven,
Location: SE 10th Avenue & SE Stark Street
Artist: Nina Chanel Abney
Location: SE 11th Avenue – Made Here Home & Art Design Portland (ADX)
Artist: Yoshi 47
Location: SE 11th Avenue – Made Here Home & Art Design Portland (ADX)
Artist: Yoshi47
Artist: Unknown
Location: SE 11th Avenue – Made Here Home & Art Design Portland (ADX)
Artist: Unknown
Artist: Unknown
Location: SE 3rd Avenue & Oak Street
Artist: Yoskay Yamamoto & J. Shea
Location: 9th & Sandy Boulevard
Artist: Yoskay Yamamoto
Artist(s): Aaron Glassman & Celeste Byers
Location: 706 SE MLK Boulevard
Artist(s): Aaron Glasson & Celeste Byers
Burnside Skatepark
Artists: Multiple
Location: SE 2nd Avenue
Burnside Skateboard Park Portland Oregon
Alberta Arts District
Location: Alberta Street from MLK Boulevard to 30th Avenue
Artist: Mateu Valasco
Location: 1823 NE Alberta Street
Artist: Mateu Valasco
Artist: Zach Yarrington, Blaine Fontana & Jun Inoue
Location: 2127 NE Alberta Street
Artists: Yarrington & Fontana
Artist: Blaine Fontana
Location: 2137 NE Alberta Street
Artist: Blaine Fontana
Artist: Tom Cramer
Location: 2203 NE Alberta Street
Alberta Street & NW 22nd
Artist: Rather Severe
Location: 2827 NE Alberta Street
Artist: Rather Severe
Location: 2839 NE Alberta Street
Artist: Lewis Harris
Location: The corner of NE 17th and Alberta
Malcom X Mural
Artist(s): Unknown
Location NE Alberta Street & NW 26th Alley
Portland is a slaptaggers heaven @socialfatigue
SE Division Neighborhood
Artist:Unknown
Location: SE 36th Avenue & SE Division (The Drawing Studio)
Artist: GATS
Location: SE 35th Place & SE Division
Artist: Jacobson
Location: SE 37th Avenue & SE Division
Artist: Megzany
Location: 3570 SE Division
Artist: Megzany
Have you seen any of these murals? What are your tips and tricks for finding street art in a new city? Let me know in the comments below.
Pin for later:
Where to find Street Art in Portland Oregon
Streets of Nuremberg
Awesome post, Hilary! I have photographed most of those murals myself during my endless trips to the Rose City. I love the information about the artists who painted those. Thanks for sharing! Marcus