Spend a day with European masters and Native American artists at one of Portland’s premier cultural attractions, the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest.
Known for its extensive Native American art collection, the Portland Art Museum highlights the city’s cultural scene. Its more than 42,000 permanent works include European sculptures and paintings, Japanese screen prints, thousands of photographs and a fine collection of modern and contemporary art.
Spanning two-and-a-half blocks in the downtown district, the museum campus includes the Northwest Film Centre, where the Portland International Film Festival is held in February. Regional talent takes centre stage in November at the Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival. The year-round exhibition program includes foreign, classic and experimental works.
Expand your art history knowledge at the Crumpacker Family Library. Among its resources are more than a century’s worth of exhibition catalogues, artist files and archives. There are also public computers and a wireless Internet service.
From the Belluschi Building (the main gallery area), use the underground tunnel to reach the Mark Building. Its six floors hold the museum’s contemporary and modern art collection, exhibited on a rotating basis. Gathered from around the world, the works include pieces by Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol. Regional artists are also well represented. Two floors in the Belluschi Building are dedicated to Northwest art from the late 19th century to today. Oregon artists include the prolific Amanda Snyder and Impressionist C.S. Price. The Belluschi Building also houses a historical collection of silver ware, works of graphic art and the outstanding Native American collection of more than 5,000 prehistoric and historic artifacts.
When you need refreshment, head to the museum coffee shop on the first floor of the Belluschi Building, where you can also stroll through the sculpture court. The museum is open daily except for Mondays, January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Admission is free from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the fourth Friday of every month. Free, guided tours cover different collections depending on the day and time.
