VIADUCT ARTS COLUMNS
Arts Organizations Team Up to Paint More Column Murals Under the Hawthorne Bridge Viaduct
PORTLAND, OREGON
Kyra Watkin’s Viaduct Arts Columns under the Hawthorne Bridge.
Since 2022, PSAA has teamed up with local organizations and businesses to transform SE Madison Street (under the Hawthorne Bridge Viaduct) into an Avenue of Murals, transforming a once dark and dreary area into a vibrant public art corridor celebrating the past, present, and future of Portland’s Central Eastside. Over 20 column murals now brighten this once-overlooked space!
Paola De La Cruz’ Viaduct Arts Columns under the Hawthorne Bridge.
For phase III of this initiative, seven new murals were created in partnership with the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) as part of their public art program. With PSAA’s consultation, RACC selected two local Portland-based artists, Paola De La Cruz and Kyra Watkins, for the job. The mural’s content was shaped by ideas gathered through a community and business survey conducted by the Central Eastside Industrial Council. Local businesses and property owners were invited to share concepts reflecting the neighborhood’s past and present, helping to guide the mural’s development.
Paola De La Cruz
Kyra Watkins
"The Regional Arts & Culture Council is excited to continue building its relationship with Portland Street Art Alliance by partnering on the painting of the murals underneath the Hawthorne Bridge. Bringing artists to these bridge columns has been a goal years in the making. This project symbolizes our commitment to creating new art experiences that invest in the health of our neighborhoods and provide the public the opportunity to engage with art in surprising and unexpected places.” – Salvador Mayoral IV, Deputy Director of Public Art, Regional Arts & Culture Council
MURALS BY PAOLA DE LA CRUZ
Paola De La Cruz, originally from the Dominican Republic and now based in Portland, is known for her work in public art, illustration, and exhibitions. Her vibrant illustrated style often depicts gatherings of people with special attention to detail, with a storytelling narrative. Her notable recent projects include a PSAA-commissioned indoor mural at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, and a beautifully illustrated tribute to Rosa Parks on a bus wrap for Tri-Met.
“This project pushed me to think creatively about working on a four-sided mural. I enjoyed exploring movement and designing pieces that encouraged viewers to interact with the artwork from different angles. A huge thank you to my painting assistant, Ashley Cruz Nieves, whose support was invaluable throughout this unique process.” – Paola De La Cruz, Muralist
MURALS by kyra watkins
Next up are four bold new column murals by Kyra Watkins. Each pillar celebrates a different industry that shapes Portland’s Central Eastside. Kyra’s designs highlight the worlds of sports, the produce trade, the fishing and shipping industries, and accessibility initiatives around our local rivers.
A Cincinnati native and now Portland-based artist, Kyra brings her expertise in portraiture and large-scale public murals to the project. Her notable recent projects include a gallery show and artwork for TEDx Portland 2025, and a PSAA-led mural with the non-profit, Project Color Corps for Self-Enchancement, Inc.
“Being able to honor the spirit of the Central Eastside by painting four new columns in this viaduct series is an opportunity I am so grateful for. The Central Eastside is home to my artist’s studio, and I find myself inspired by this neighborhood in so many ways. The amount of industry, artistry, and entrepreneurship that happens here is infectious. I hoped to capture that essence within the theme of each column.” – Kyra Watkins, Muralist
These bold, colorful murals are part of a larger effort to transform the often-overlooked spaces under the bridge into a dynamic public art corridor that reflects Portland’s cultural and industrial heartbeat. Come take a walk and experience this outdoor art gallery for yourself!
"PSAA’s Viaduct Arts and Central Eastside Mural District Initiatives are ongoing efforts to revitalize this area, particularly the underpasses of Portland’s Central Eastside, by transforming once-overlooked spaces into vibrant canvases for public art. Through color and creative expression, these initiatives celebrate local artistic talent and foster deeper connections within the community. We are especially grateful to Kyra and Paola for their vision and dedication in bringing this phase of the project to life. Creating murals on these column sites is no small feat! The physical and logistical challenges are considerable, and we greatly appreciate all of the artists who have taken them on with care and creativity to help shape this world-class mural district in the heart of our beloved city." – Tiffany Conklin, Executive Director, Portland Street Art Alliance