ALBINA LIBRARY MURALS
POrtland, Oregon
Digital Mural in the new Teen Room by Nicky Kriara.
PSAA is thrilled to continue our partnership with Multnomah County Library with four stunning murals for the newly renovated Albina Library! The original historic Carnegie building has been transformed with an additional 22,000 SF, making it Oregon's largest library built in over 100 years!
NICKY KRIARA
The new teen room features an expansive digital mural by Nicky Kriara inspired by the rich history of jazz in Portland’s Albina neighborhood.
To help inform the design, a development workshop was held at Harriet Tubman Middle School. Students explored sound and storytelling by designing their own album cover art. Their ideas helped shape Kriara’s final design, which reflects the spirit of improvisation and collaboration found in jazz, blended with the students’ vision for a space that feels calm, safe, inviting - and “full of good vibes.”
JESSILYN BRINKERHOFF
The bold, joyful mural, Albina Blooms, welcomes visitors in the Russel Street lobby. Painted by Jessilyn Brinkerhoff, the work celebrates the cultural renewal and community heritage of Portland’s historic Albina neighborhood. Ablina Blooms is inspired by the rhythms of Jumptown and the shared green spaces of Dawson Park.
The piece features vibrant colors, native species, and the enduring presence of pine, dogwood, poplar, chestnut, and sweetgum trees—sentinels of the community that have witnessed generations. Honoring the past while looking toward a thriving future, the mural invites viewers into a dynamic space of music, memory, and springlike renewal.
CHRISTIAN TELLEZ
The Carnegie Room kids' area contains two PSAA murals. The first is titled Our Roots and Dreams, and was painted by Christian Tellez. The artwork reflects Albina’s rich legacy of cultural expression, artistic innovation, and enduring commitment to learning, growth, and collective empowerment through an abstract and geometric lens.
Julia Alexis Hunkler
The second mural in the kids’ library area is Shaped, by Julia Alexis Hunkler. This piece delves into themes of imagination, wonder, and the shaping of future creators. Drawing inspiration from the symbolism of origami, Shaped celebrates the transformation of young minds, inviting viewers to reflect on the endless possibilities that unfold through discovery, play, and learning.
TEEN WORKSHOP
Artist Nicky Kriara Kirara kicked off the creative process for her mural by collaborating with students from Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy, leading a hands-on workshop rooted in Albina’s rich jazz history.
Students explored classic jazz albums and then created their own original album cover designs using pre-made record sleeves. The result? A burst of creativity that’s helping shape a unique mural for the library’s cozy teen hangout space.
A big thank you to the students and staff at Harriet Tubman Middle School!
SPONSORS
