

Time-Based Art (TBA) Festival
The Time-Based Art Festival shatters barriers between artist and audience.
Eric Gold
Called “the best contemporary summer festival in the country” by The New York Times, Portland’s Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) returns every September with 10 days of boundary-pushing performances, visual art and projects that defy categorization. Returning Sept. 5–15, 2019, festival-goers can expect an eclectic array of artists from across the globe, including from far-flung locales like Morocco, Singapore and France.
Modeled after international contemporary arts festivals in cities like Edinburgh and Adelaide, TBA is orchestrated by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA). Installations and performances take over Portland’s theaters, galleries, warehouses and public spaces, while workshops and talks keep the arts going almost nonstop. Together, these works effectively obliterate the barriers between artists and their audiences.
Every night of TBA’s 10-day run, PICA hosts “The Works” at its box office in Northeast Portland. At these nightly events, artists and attendees can grab a drink and check out rock shows, drag balls, installations, sonic experiments and more.
The Avant-Garde Scene
Local performing arts, nightlife, queer events and more
Upcoming Arts Events

Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal
Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal … is the first major survey of the work of one of America’s most important conceptual artists. Throughout his career, Hank Willis Thomas (American, born 1976) has fearlessly addressed racism, inequality and bias in bold, skillfully crafted works. Through photographs, sculpture, video, audience-activated digital animation and collaborative public…

Fertile Ground Festival
See Portland’s newest theater and dance works every January at Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival.

Portland Winter Light Festival
Brighten your February with glowing sculptures and thousands of twinkling lights at the annual Winter Lights Festival.

Volcano! Mount St. Helens in Art
Marking the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, this exhibition explores the overwhelming power of nature and the epic cycles of volcanic destruction and regeneration with stunning photographs, paintings and drawings of the mountain from 1845 to the present day. Curated by Dawson Carr, Ph.D., The Janet and Richard Geary Curator of…

Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott
The first comprehensive retrospective of one of America’s most compelling and controversial artists, Art and Race Matters traces the work of Robert Colescott (1925-2009), who established his career in Portland with the support of gallery owner and philanthropist Arlene Schnitzer, then made his mark in the 1970s with a series of deconstructed art-historical masterpieces that…

Design Week Portland
This annual springtime festival showcases Portland’s creative community, with a week full of lectures, design events and open houses.

Crafty Wonderland Spring Art + Craft Market
Portland’s semiannual craft fair returns with hundreds of artists and crafters selling amazing handmade items including art, accessories, clothing, jewelry, body care, home goods, paper goods + prints, terrariums, sweets, distilled spirits, plush, kids’ stuff … and more!

Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism
Internationally beloved artists Frida Kahlo (1907–1954) and Diego Rivera (1886–1957) played a crucial role in defining and establishing the Avant-Garde cultural movement in Mexico in the early 20th century. Their famously stormy marriage reflected their diverging artistic styles: While Rivera’s art projected itself outward, often in vast murals and concerned itself with the construction of…

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…

To Bear Witness – Extraordinary Lives
To Bear Witness – Extraordinary Lives will capture, share and preserve the stories of 10 to 12 people from varied backgrounds who left their homelands for safe haven in the United States. Although these refugees had survival on their minds when they first arrived, they jump-started their lives with remarkable determination, finding their way in…

Ansel Adams in Our Time
Oct 17, 2020 – Jan 24, 2021 Ansel Adams in Our Time celebrates the visual legacy of the acclaimed American photographer and includes some of his most iconic images, from a symphonic view of snow-dusted peaks in The Tetons and Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (1942) to the sublime Moon and Half Dome,…

Being Present
Being Present: Revisiting, Somewhat Unfaithfully, Portland’s Most Experimental Art Experiment, PCVA From 1972 to 1987, the Portland Center for the Visual Arts (PCVA) was a major force in the Pacific Northwest, introducing progressive forms of contemporary art from around the country to Portland audiences. Temporary site-specific installations by major, mostly New York-based sculptors, announced its…

Color Line: Black Excellence on the World Stage
At the International Exposition of 1900 in Paris, American sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois put together “The American Negro Exhibit,” a remarkable collection of more than 300 photographs of African-American men and women, homes, churches, businesses and universities. These photographs were paired with a series of charts and graphs designed by…

Curator’s Choice: Japanese Print Acquisitions of the Past Decade
Retiring Curator of Asian Art Maribeth Graybill presents her personal favorites from among more than 600 Japanese prints acquired during her tenure at the Museum. The exhibition includes works by leading masters of the 18th and 19th centuries, chosen for their exceptional condition; warrior prints, a genre previously neglected in the collection; and prints by…

Isaka Shamsud-Din: Rock of Ages
Isaka Shamsud-Din: Rock of Ages is an intimate exhibition celebrating the Portland artist’s masterful paintings, rich in a narrative combining personal stories and folklore. Shamsud-Din’s paintings also celebrate and honor individuals by capturing portraits. Tightly composed and with a vibrancy of color, the works invite viewers to be among these individuals and warm settings. The…

Norma Bassett Hall: Color Block Prints in Oregon Collections
Norma Bassett Hall was born in Halsey, Oregon, in 1888. Just 18 years later, she entered the School of the Portland Art Association in its first year and by 1929, she had achieved national recognition for her art. Yet, with her local roots and strong ties to Oregon art, her work has never been the…

Portraiture from the Collection of Northwest Art
In the rich tradition of portraiture reflected in Northwest art, there is an exemplary range of individuals and styles of depiction. For this exhibition, the artist Storm Tharp was invited to help select works from the collection through his keen eyes as a fellow portraitist. As he combed through the collection, some themes in portraiture…

Question Bridge: Black Males
Presented in conjunction with Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…, on view in the Main Building, Question Bridge: Black Males is a project of Cause Collective, a long-term project-based collaboration between Thomas and a team of artists, designers and ethnographers who create innovative forms of public art that spark cross-cultural conversations. Question Bridge: Black…

The Art of Reading
The artistic poster first flourished in the United States in the 1890s. Initially following design trends pioneered in Europe, American artists soon created their own unique style. Magazines were among the first to adopt this new form of advertising, employing outstanding designers such as Will Bradley, Edward Penfield and Maxfield Parrish to advertise periodicals including…

Toughened to Wind and Sun: Women Photographing the Landscape
During the early 20th century, Pictorialist photographer Anne Brigman regularly hiked and camped in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, photographing the rugged landscape with her 4×5-inch view camera. She later recalled, “I slowly found my power with the camera among the junipers and tamarack pines of the high, storm-swept altitudes.” Toughened to Wind and Sun…

Akunnittinni: A Kinngait Family Portrait
Loosely translated, the Inuktitut word Akunnittinni means “between us.” This exhibition chronicles a visual dialogue between an Inuk grandmother, mother, and daughter – Pitseolak Ashoona, Napachie Pootoogook, and Annie Pootoogook. Their work provide a personal and cultural history of three generations of Inuit women and sardonic references to pop culture that now infuses everyday life…

Art at Lan Su: Brian Oaster & Angelita Surmon
See new work by artists Brian Oaster and Angelita Surmon on display in Lan Su Chinese Garden’s pavilions in December 2019. Admission to Lan Su: $12.95 General, $11.95 Seniors, $9.95 Students (under 18 or w/ College ID), free for children under 6 and members.

Tabor Holiday Open Studios
Visit Tabor neighborhood artists Jessica Rhys and Nicole M. Curcio’s home studios as they host fellow artisans and guests for a weekend of celebrating Portland creative community and shopping handcrafted goods. Tabor Holiday Open Studios will feature creations from eight Portland artists; most artists will be on hand to chat about their work. For guests…

Creative Workshops
Get creative! Radius Art offers opportunities for both the beginning and the experienced artist to learn the basics or build on their current skills. Learn ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, leatherworking, fabric dying and more.

Rain Spark Seasonal Gallery
Rain Spark Gallery has a new location this year at 310 N. State St. Suite #108 in Lake Oswego. Dates Open: October 24-December 29, 2019. The hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. The gallery is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This is the ninth year of the…

Cracked Pots Holiday Pop-Up With ReClaim It!
Cracked Pots’ second annual holiday pop-up shop featuring reuse. Shoppers looking for an alternate source for holiday gifts will find something truly meaningful at this reuse popup, featuring fine art and craft by 40 artists who utilize reclaimed materials. All items are at least 80% upcycled. Sharing the retail space, a ReClaim It! pop-up shop…

Erika Morillo: Umbral
Umbral, which means “gateway” or “portal” in Spanish, is a series by Erika Morillo focused on her young son. Through her contemplative black-and-white images and accompanying poetry, viewers are given a glimpse of her son’s inner world, as well as Morillo’s introspections as a single parent.

Rachel Boillot: Moon Shine: Photographs of the Cumberland Plateau
Moon Shine: Photographs of the Cumberland Plateau is a body of work inspired by the unique musical traditions of the Cumberland Plateau. This region is home to a rich storytelling heritage, showcased in historic fiddle tunes, balladry, religious gospel pieces and other songs passed down as part of a formidable—but quickly disappearing—oral tradition. Rachel Boillot…

Art Museum Family Tour: Where The Wild Things Are!
Explore the museum with a docent skilled in bringing art to life. Public tours depart from the Park Avenue entrance. Museum Admission: Free for Members, $20 Adults, $17 Seniors 62+ & College Students, Free Children 17 and under.

Uptown Village Reindeer Block Party
Main Street will be closed to cars during the event so that visitors can enjoy local craft vendors, free crafts, a free photo op with Santa, live music and of course, two very famous reindeer, Comet and Vixen.

Art Museum Public Tour: Highlights
Explore the Museum with a docent skilled in bringing art to life. Public tours depart from the Park Avenue entrance. Museum Admission: Free for Members, $20 Adults, $17 Seniors 62+ & College Students, Free Children 17 and under.

Arts Council of Lake Oswego’s Holiday Marketplace Returns
Join the Arts Council of Lake Oswego for its third annual hand-selected, all-media Holiday Marketplace at its ARTspace Gallery from November 30 – December 28, 2019. Holiday Marketplace showcases work including fine art, wood, ceramics, jewelry, handmade gifts, ornaments, leather goods, textiles and accessories and is located in beautiful downtown Lake Oswego. A staple of…

Looptworks Retail Workshop Tour
Looptworks uses only what already exists to create new functional products (including upcycled bags, apparel and accessories). Looptworks is committed to upcycling and closed loop solutions. Its intent is to reduce and eliminate waste in its industry headed to the landfill. Participate and witness the Looptworks upcycling production and circular economy firsthand. Tour Schedule &…

Winter Makers Mercado Craft Fair
To celebrate the season, Portland Mercado will be hosting a holiday craft fair.

APEX: Laura Fritz
Laura Fritz combines an immersive installation and video-based work for her contribution to the APEX exhibition series. Working closely with the architectural space that APEX inhabits, Fritz has created a site-specific installation that responds to various points of corners, walls and the floor, taking signals from furniture that allude to tables, cabinets or other ergonomic…

Brenda Mallory: Gather Back
In her first solo exhibition at Upfor, artist Brenda Mallory presents new 2D and relief works in an array of materials both found and created, from linen firehose to kiln-formed glass, to addresses ideas of repetition, interference and disruption in nature and human culture. She often combines relatively simple components into complex, abstract compositions, reworking…

Iván Carmona: Sublime
PDX Contemporary Art is pleased to present Sublime, Iván Carmona’s first solo exhibition with the Gallery. Based on nostalgia for his homeland of Puerto Rico, each of Iván Carmona’s sculptures draws from specific landmarks and key aspects of the Puerto Rican landscape. Abstractions of flora, fauna, water, earth, architecture and specific cultural references come together…

Christopher Marley Lecture and Book Signing
Meet Christopher Marley, the bestselling author whose stunning three-dimensional art – comprised of sustainably-sourced animal, mineral and plant specimens – is featured in OMSI’s current exhibit, Exquisite Creatures. 6 p.m.: Explore the exhibit, Exquisite Creatures (special ticket required)7 p.m.: Lecture and Q&A8 p.m.: Book signing in the Science Store (books will be available for purchase)Tickets…

Midday Art Break
Midday Art Break: Community Partners In Residence. Presented by Ella Ray, Kress Fellow & Community Partners Coordinator. Take a break from your workday and join a curator, museum educator, artist or local scholar for a 45-minute talk in the galleries. Museum Admission: Free for Members, $20 Adults, $17 Seniors 62+ & College Students, Free Children…

No Human Involved: The Fifth Annual Sex Workers’ Art Show
No Human Involved: The Fifth Annual Sex Workers’ Art Show November 8 – December 14, 2019 The phrase “no human involved” (“NHI”) is a slang term that has been commonly used by police to refer to crimes involving the murder or injury of sex workers, drug users, gang members, immigrant and transient folks, with Black…

A Thousand Cuts
B. G-Osborne’s work in A Thousand Cuts addresses the misrepresentation of trans people in film and television, and the ongoing reality of violence that transgender/transsexual people encounter. The immersive, three-channel video installation is comprised of appropriated footage from 48 films, 34 television series and one music video spanning the 1990s to the present day. The…

Oil and Cold Wax – Fine Art Demonstration
Lisa Mann, abstract landscape artist, will be working with cold wax paste and oil – a very unique, organic and intuitive process. Cold wax medium is a paste of beeswax and a small amount of solvent. It has a soft, butter-like consistency. By adding the cold wax paste to oil paints, Lisa works in layers…

Gingerbread Dream Home
Join up for a joyful evening of architectural history and gingerbread house-making fun while experiencing the magic of a Pittock Mansion Christmas. After learning about some of Portland’s historic homes and getting inspiration, you will get a chance to build a gingerbread dream home. Will your home win a “best of” prize? Get your tickets…

$5 After 5
Every Friday evening, the Portland Art Museum (PAM) invites you to play, to have a different Museum experience—a little bit more relaxed, more interactive and more social experience. Admission is just $5 after 5 p.m. Here’s what PAM has in store: Beer, wine, and food at Art Pub in the Museum Grounds Cafe. Occasional special…

Art Museum Public Tour: Slow Looking
Explore the museum with a docent skilled in bringing art to life. Public tours depart from the Park Avenue entrance. Museum Admission: Free for Members, $20 Adults, $17 Seniors 62+ & College Students, Free Children 17 and under.

Oil and Cold Wax Interactive Workshop with Lisa Mann
In this two-day intensive and interactive workshop with the Oregon Society of Artists, Lisa will introduce the process of using oil and cold wax to create meaningful paintings through layering, textures, color and visual storytelling. Utilizing oil paints, cold wax medium, pigment sticks and a variety of tools for texture and collage, both emerging, experienced…

Miller Family Free Day
Join up for a range of community programs and activities highlighting themes related to Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal….

Portland Bazaar
Portland’s annual holiday market, showcasing 70+ top local makers and designers for a fun kind of holiday shopping. Fun for the whole family, free to attend and lots of bites and festive warm, boozy and no- boozy drinks.

Rainbows Love Cosmic Light
Art opening for Larry Yes – presented by Hello! Good Morning! Larry Peace-love Yes is an American folk artist and musician whose mission is to spread love. With a guiding sense of boundless childlike wonder, Larry creates works of whimsy and joy that will make you smile. His infectious enthusiasm for life will give you…

Art Museum Public Tour: All Things Being Equal…
Presented in conjunction with the special exhibition, Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal… Explore the Museum with a docent skilled in bringing art to life. Public tours depart from the Park Avenue entrance. Museum admission: Free for Members; $20 Adults $17 Seniors 62+ and College Students; Free for Children 17 and under.