Located in Northwest Portland’s artsy Pearl District, Froelick Gallery represents contemporary artists with strong, independent voices.

Credit: NashCo

Oregon Center for Contemporary Art

Original shows and innovative programming challenge and inspire at this North Portland destination.

Updated Oct. 24, 2023 Kenton

Tuck Woodstock

Tuck Woodstock wrote and edited content for Travel Portland from 2014–2020. Read More

Oregon Center for Contemporary Art , a North Portland contemporary art center formerly known as Disjecta, is known for its innovative programming. Founded in 2000, the gallery was originally run out of an abandoned Masonic lodge. Now, Oregon Contemporary is situated in a lofty, 12,000-square-foot (1,115 sq m) space in Portland’s Kenton neighborhood with a courtyard and cafe. This small champions of contemporary artists is living up to its dreams of national and international renown as an up-and-coming center for new and experimental art.

Oregon Contemporary has distinguished itself by amassing a wide portfolio of offerings — some 500 shows since 2003 — that range from visual art installations, film, performance art pieces, drag shows, to the ambitious Portland Biennial, which draws up to 5,500 spectators for two months’ worth of symposia, exhibitions and talks.

In their dedication to community, Oregon Contemporary offers Platform, a partnering with local musicians, performers, and culture makers to present new works. Their partnerships extend into Portland’s foodie scene, with Culinaria and beyond Portland with Curator-in-Residence program -which was a first in the region, inviting visiting artists to create a series of exhibitions and events that spotlight local to international artists working in an array of media.

Arts, Museums