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Portland Art Museum
Major exhibitions complement the museum’s strong Native American and Northwest collections.
Know Before You Go
Museum tickets can be purchased in advance online or in person.
There are several current exhibits in addition to the museum’s permanent collection; please check the Portland Art Museum website for up-to-date information.
The Portland Art Museum is the largest art museum in Oregon and one of the oldest in the country. Located in two historic buildings on Portland’s South Park Blocks, the museum is central to the city’s cultural district and houses a large and wide-ranging art collection.
Tips for Visiting the Portland Art Museum
How do I get to the Portland Art Museum?
The Tri-Met bus and Portland Streetcar travel directly past the Museum, and the MAX light rail has a stop only four blocks away.
Is there parking available?
The closest private lot is Central City Parking at SW 10th and Main.
Do I need to reserve tickets in advance?
How much does the Portland Art Museum cost?
- $25 for adults (18 and over)
- $22 for seniors 62+ and college students
- Free for children 17 and under
Special exhibition and program fees may apply.
Details are subject to change; please check the Portland Art Museum website for current information.
Portland Art Museum Campus and History
First organized in 1892, the museum’s first exhibition was a set of magnificent plaster casts of Greek and Roman sculpture, now displayed in the upper hall of the city’s library. In 1932, the museum moved into the primary building, designed by Pietro Belluschi: a gracious contemporary update of the Georgian style, sleek-lined and advanced in its ideas. The museum’s renovation of the Masonic Temple to its immediate north added more exhibition and office space to the campus in 2005.
Belluschi’s original design was ahead of its time. It was airy and admitted natural light into the museum’s galleries, especially the court beyond the entryway, and the visitor today experiences that grand space as a sort of surprise, given the museum’s relative scale. More wings were added, first to house the Pacific Northwest College of Art, then known as the Museum Art School (and ultimately separated into its own institution), and then a warren of smaller galleries. The old Masonic Temple has become the Jubitz Center of Modern and Contemporary Art, though its old, ornate meeting rooms have been retained.
On the lower level sits the Whitsell Auditorium, a part of the Museum’s history for the past fifty years. Formally Northwest Film Center, now PAM CUT (Center for an Untold Tomorrow), the theater screens art films and has programming that supports local and international storytelling in all immersive formats.
Portland Art Museum Collections
The museum has strong collections of prints and drawings, photography, Asian art, Native American (especially Pacific Coast) art, and Northwest art. Its European and American collections contain some extraordinary individual pieces, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries. The huge prints and drawings collection was built largely by the late Gordon Gilkey and include Old Masters printmakers (Dürer, Rembrandt) and the most recent examples of the art forms. And under chief curator Bruce Guenther, the museum’s modern art holdings have increased dramatically, partly because of the addition of the collection of the great modernist critic Clement Greenberg, which gives the museum a unique window into the development of advanced art in the mid-20th century.
Northwest art is a primary attraction, cataloging the developments in Western art traditions in Oregon and Washington since the 19th century.
Native American Art
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Center was sourced from two primary collectors: the Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast art, with its fabulous masks and whaling canoes, and the encyclopedic collection of Elizabeth Cole, which brings the exquisite work of Southwest, Plains, Plateau and Woodlands tribes into focus. The collection is dedicated to all the Native American tribes of Oregon.
Northwest Art
Northwest art is a primary attraction, cataloging the developments in Western art traditions in Oregon and Washington since the 19th century. The museum’s curators have wisely spread this work throughout the galleries, placing the best work of Northwest abstractionists alongside their more celebrated New York peers, for example. Still, a gallery specifically dedicated to Northwest art supplies a good introduction to the fine artists who have worked here (C.S. Price, Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Hilda and Carl Morris, Sally Haley and Michele Russo).
Explore the Arts
Within the Portland Art Museum and beyond, to local institues supporting living artist.
Center for Native American Art
The Portland Art Museum's Center for Contemporary Native Art showcases the work of modern-day Native American artists. The innovative gallery hosts annual exhibitions along with a range of related talks and activities co-created by the artists.
Oregon Center for Contemporary Art
In North Portland find visual art installations and performance art to collaborations with bands, chefs and mixologists, with international curators and partnerships with Oregon art makers, Oregon Contemporary is the cutting edge of visual arts.
Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival
Portland’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) returns every September with 10 days of boundary-pushing performances, visual art and projects that defy categorization.
Visual Art Events
First Thursday in the Pearl District
Starting in 1986, First Thursday in the Pearl is a district-wide celebration on the first Thursday of each month. Originally a gathering of art collectors and dealers, the celebration has grown to a monthly event of over ten thousand people, including art enthusiasts, wine aficionados, and scenesters looking to see and be seen. Art galleries…
First Friday PDX
Located in Portland’s vibrant East Side Arts District, the First Friday Art Walk takes place on the first Friday evening of every month year-round. Offering a gateway into Portland’s thriving arts culture, First Friday PDX includes more than 23 independent galleries, shops, and studios and a street exhibition from April to October. The self-guided tour…
Latino Cultural Festival
Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Latin culture at the 17th Annual Washington County Chamber — Unitus Community Credit Union Latino Cultural Festiva. This culturally rich event provides a platform for sharing information, connecting with the community, and promoting local businesses and non-profits to more than 10,000 attendees. The festivities will…
Rembrandt and the Jews
The relationship Rembrandt had with the Jews of Amsterdam reveals a remarkable story. Most Amsterdam Jews were Sephardic – refugees from the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal. For generations, these Jews had been forced to deny their religious legacy, but in Amsterdam, they were free to reclaim traditions and return to their Judaism. Rembrandt lived…
Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade
A cherished highlight of the Portland Rose Festival, this popular procession is more than just a spectacular floral-filled parade — it’s a beloved annual tradition. For more than 115 years, Portland families, visitors and community groups have been making memories at the Grand Floral Parade. A colorful reflection of local, regional and international communities, the…
GeekCraft Expo
GeekCraft Expo is a curated craft market specializing in handmade, “geek”-themed crafts of all kinds; clothing, accessories, toys, home decoration, furniture, art . . . if it’s geeky and made by hand, it can be found at a GeekCraft Expo. Cosplay is highly encouraged and admission is free (you just need to pre-register).
Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts
For more than 50 years, the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts has proudly presented unique art exhibits including more than 600 local, national, and international artists. Visitors can also experience live music on two stages, performances, kids’ activities, artist demos, and a variety of food. It’s free to the public (donations encouraged) and attracts…
Last Thursday
Last Thursday is a community-grown event, free for all artists and art vendors, musicians, performers & visitors. Alberta Street is closed to traffic for the Last Thursdays in June, July and August. However, every Last Thursday of the month galleries hold their opening parties, and performance venues and bars often host live music and performances….
Gresham Arts Festival
Celebrate art with free, family-friendly fun at the annual Gresham Arts Festival with more than 125 Pacific Northwest artisans, live music, Kids Village, live music and local cuisine. The Gresham Arts Festival draws thousands from around the region each year to Gresham’s charming downtown streets to meet, browse and shop from a carefully curated selection…
Mississippi Street Fair
Bustling North Mississippi Avenue closes down for a day of food, vendors, music and fun at Portland’s largest street fair, Mississippi Street Fair. This year the fair will have the following: Three Music StagesKids ZoneGrandfathers Rib-Off CompetitionHundreds Of VendorsShopping and Dining
St. Johns Art Walk
This neighborhood-wide event celebrates St. John’s community, small businesses, local artists, food carts, and more. The art walk unites the artists that work and live in the St. Johns area and showcases all the creative makers and fine artists that belong to this unique community. Artists and Businesses along Lombard between New York Ave and…
Bloom Tour
The Bloom Tour is in part a walking tour, part art show, and part a way to support the retailers in Downtown and Old Town. Large-scale floral installations have been installed throughout Portland. Check them out at shops, restaurants, hotels, and even the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Participating retailers are also creating “Bloom Tour” promotions….
At This Time: 2023 MFA/BFA Showcase
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University presents At This Time: 2023 MFA/BFA Showcase, an exhibition of work by the 2023 graduates of the Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Art Practices programs (Studio Practice and Art + Social Practice) and the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Practice in the PSU…
Picture Day
Celebrated photographer Elle Hygge offers professional portraits and headshots that celebrate diversity. LGBTQIA2S+ friendly and support animals welcome. This is an event sponsored by the gallery and the urban art hike to encourage everyone to come to the gallery and take pictures with art. pay the gallery @GalleryGoGoGo (3 gos) Venmo
Nature Vive: Paul Missal
Nature Vive is an intimate exhibition celebrating the masterful work of Paul Missal through the lens of his playful and symbolic still-life paintings and prints. This exhibition explores themes of decay to renewal, the cool tension of balanced dualities, and nature as guardian. The show’s title inverts the traditional term nature morte (literally, dead nature,…
Subtle Intimacy: Here and There
Experience Portland Japanese Garden’s first new art exhibition of 2023. After two seasonal residencies in Portland, Japan Institute’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence, Rui Sasaki, will exhibit her site-specific works inspired by the natural beauty of Portland Japanese Garden in an exhibition titled Subtle Intimacy: Here and There. Sasaki, who works primarily in glass, is known for her…
untitled (Plaid Pantry): Paintings by David Rosenak
In a span of 25 years, David Rosenak (American, born 1957) has looked closely at the cityscape that defines the limited range between his work, home, and studio locations in the Buckman neighborhood of Southeast Portland. Though his work may be seen within the scope of limitations — the narrow physical range of places and…
Rose Festival Art Show
Each year, the Oregon Society of Artists partners with the Portland Rose Festival to present the annual Portland Rose Festival Art Show. This exhibition honors the legacy and future of the Rose Festival and the city of Portland, featuring work that showcases the Rose City in all of its spring resplendence.
First Thursday at Cosmic Bliss
Enjoy Art and Ice Cream featuring an exhibit of original work by Allison Jarman (@allisonjarman.studio). Allison will be on site to talk with patrons, and there will be delicious off-menu frozen treats to enjoy.
home school: Omens of Capacity
home school and Oregon Contemporary present Omens of Capacity, featuring work by Jackie Abhulimen, Bridgette Hickey, Janice Lee, Ariana Nuala, Diego Morales-Portillo, Alex Tatarsky, and Shanzhai Lyric. With a title drawing from Guyanese writer Wilson Harris, the final show in the eleventh season of the Curator in Residence program “reads back through the shock of…
Creating Wonder Gallery Show
Welcome to the gallery show exploring the theme of “Creating Wonder”. This event showcases art that inspires the viewer’s awe and wonder. Walking through the gallery, you will encounter various artwork from various mediums, including painting, sculpture, and installation. Each piece has been carefully selected to showcase how artists can create wonder through their work….
Art Focus Night: Illustrators Work & Chat
Professional illustrators, graphic designers, digital painters and artists are invited to come and have free snacks, meet other creators and have time to work together. Bring a project to work on. Hosted by artist Shelly Swann @fairywulf and Gallery Go Go @gallerygogo
Taking Up Space Exhibit and Makers Market
Taking Up Space, or T.U.S. is a Grassroots Community Global Art Exhibition for Artists of Genders Underrepresented in the Art World. The Taking Up Space Exhibit features the solo work of artist Madeleine Camille Meyer. Madeleine is drawn to the contrast of soft fibers connected to ceramic and utilizes them to tell these stories. Many…
International Art Festival
A celebration of international countries, hosted by the Lloyd Center in Portland, Or. Events will include storytelling, crafts, cooking, dance, one-act plays, poetry, art and more to give a complete overlay of the cultural experience of each country that will be celebrated. 5/13 — China5/20 + 27 — Morocco6/3 + 10 — Mexico
Day Drink & Draw
A few things to know …. You are encouraged to bring your own supplies; some will be available for purchase, but it’s better to come prepared. Beer, wine, and cider will be available at Tomorrow’s Verse Taproom. Outside alcohol is not allowed. Bringing your own snacks is very much allowed. There is no charge to…
And but a Dream
In 1968 Salvador Dali was commissioned by Samuel Shore, the head of Shorewood Publishers, to create a series of artworks on the theme of the renewal of the Jewish people. “Aliyah, the Rebirth of Israel” comprises 25 mixed media paintings, including gouache, watercolors, and Indian ink on paper. They were reproduced as photolithographs and published…
Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio
Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio is a celebration and exploration of the inventiveness, passion and artistic cooperation that goes into making a cinematic vision come to life. This exhibition is coming to Portland from The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, where it is on view through April 15, 2023. Showcasing the collaborative…
The Art of Reading: An Art Gallery Fundraiser
Join an all-day art gallery fundraiser and event. Featuring the works of young makers and local professional artists (including works from Mike Bennett and Danny Scannapieco), 100% of proceeds from art sales and silent auction directly benefit The Children’s Book Bank at SMART Reading. The event will host the walk-through gallery featuring 100+ original pieces…
A Local Pacific Northwest Evening
ART SHOW, DINNER THEATER, BEER and WINE FEST — ALL IN ONE Join A Local Pacific Northwest Evening. Enjoy a buffet dinner, live music, and a glimpse into the history and culture of the PNW.Dinner Buffet with dishes inspired by PNW historyMarketplace featuring local beer and wine vendorsLive historically informative concert by the Oregon Trail…
Cultural Festival Street Party
The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education is hosting a free public opening featuring a street-wide cultural exchange with a land acknowledgment, a Chinese Lion performance, Portland Taiko, and the klezmer music of Michelle Alany and the Mystics. The museum is re-opening with an expanded footprint that includes a new core exhibition, Human…
Pints & Palettes
Learn foundational watercolor techniques and take home your own hop-tastic creation in this all-levels workshop. Local artist Amy Wike will teach insider tips and tricks of the watercolor medium, introduce essential materials and techniques, and provide Portland and beer-themed templates for you to fill in (or create your masterpiece from a blank canvas). Enjoy Baerlic…
Discovering del Toro Film Series
Featuring rarely seen early work as well as 35mm prints of Pan’s Labyrinth, The Devil’s Backbone, Blade 2, and more, this weekend series presented in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art will trace Guillermo del Toro’s journey from makeup artist to indie filmmaker to one of the most beloved directors, producers, writers, and creature…
Introduction To Intuitive Art
Spend the day immersed in the beautiful natural surroundings of the Verdancy Project with artist and instructor Beth Wilson. Intuitive art is about letting go. Release all goals or expectations about a finished product. Strive to forget any technique or “how to” ideas we hold about drawing or art making. Instead, drop into the deep…
Summer Story Fest
Join Outlet PDX and the Honeyed Words bookstore for a free summer celebration of storytelling. Summer Story Fest will unite over 25 zinesters, authors, and storytellers throughout Sonny’s House of Tattoos and Treasures, Outlet PDX, and New New Crusher Court. Folks who come through will find dozens of artists and authors, the Zine Bike by…
Friends of Dorothy Artist Talk
Understanding and accepting one another is an ongoing process. Many times, artists create and express when words and conversation fail us. During the month-long PRIDE celebration, the Friends of Dorothy exhibition offers an opportunity to view and learn more about inclusivity and diversity. Regional talents Maia Denzler, Ryan Geary, Garrett Recker, and Donavon Sinclair share…
Multi-Cultural Showcase
The Oregon Society of Artists is committed to showcasing and soliciting work from artists of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups. This exhibition will showcase the diverse artwork, backgrounds, and creativity of national and international artists. It will feature work by artists of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, races, sexualities, and more.
La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival
La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival returns to Main Street Hillsboro. This event combines community engagement and art appreciation into one FREE fun-filled weekend. This summer festival features a window into the creative process where festival goers can engage with nationally-recognized and emerging visual artists as they carefully create colorful chalk art drawings down…
Artist Alley Comics Fest
Like many unique and innovative comic creators, Artist Alley Comics Fest (AACF) was founded. It made its home in Portland, Oregon and debuted on Sunday, August 2, 2015, at The Spritely Bean, the late indie comics café. AACF gave the opportunity and visibility to independent comic artists who have traditionally been overlooked or shut out…
Yishai Jusidman, Prussian Blue
Yishai Jusidman’s Prussian Blue is a series of paintings rendered almost exclusively in one of the earliest artificially developed pigments used by European painters—Prussian Blue. The chemical compound that makes up this pigment happens to be related to the Prussic acid in Zyklon B, the poisonous product deployed at some of the Nazi concentration and…
Black Artists of Oregon
Black Artists of Oregon, highlighting and celebrating the work of Black artists in and outside the collection, will deepen awareness of the talented artists that have shaped and inspired artists regionally and nationally. The exhibition will be the first of its kind to consider the work of Black artists collectively in Oregon, often underrepresented and…
Art in the Burbs
Art in the Burbs is a juried art show indoors at Tigard High School. 20% of each artist’s sales will be retained to benefit The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools’ (FTTS’) Art in the Burbs Grant program. Grants are awarded to each of the district’s schools to use only in their Arts programs – writing,…
Africa Fashion
The Portland Art Museum is pleased to present Africa Fashion, a major exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London that will celebrate the richness and diversity of African creativity, cultures, and histories, using fashion as a catalyst. Spanning the mid-twentieth century to contemporary designs, Africa Fashion explores the vitality of a fashion…
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