Where to See Art in the Portland Region

The grand dame of the Rose City art scene, the Portland Art Museum has a collection that tops 50,000 objects, including American, Asian and European art. PAM’s exhibits span the spectrum and often highlight the work of diverse artists.  

As of November 2025, visitors may enjoy the long-awaited expansion of 100,000 square feet of new and upgraded public and gallery space.

The transformation includes 300 major new acquisitions, dedicated gallery space for exhibits focused on diverse artists including Black art and experiences, a new sheltered open-air passageway connecting the east and west entry plazas to the South Park Blocks, an outdoor public plaza, a new cafe and an expanded store.

“The Museum’s transformed campus is a result of a decades-long vision to better serve our community as the cornerstone of Portland’s downtown cultural district,” says museum director Brian Ferriso.

“As one of the oldest art museums in the country, and the only major art museum between Seattle and San Francisco, PAM is an essential cultural lifeline for our region. The new PAM will create a dynamic destination for the arts, reinvigorating our city and offering expanded opportunities to engage audiences with art from around Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and the world.”

Honoring a Portland Legend

The centerpiece of the Portland Art Museum expansion is the new 21,881-square-foot Mark Rothko Pavilion, which provides a new transparent, welcoming front door to the museum. The glass pavilion connects the museum’s two historic buildings — the landmark 1932 Main Building to the south and the Mark Building to the north — creating streamlined circulation across all four floors of gallery space.

The pavilion honors legendary artist Mark Rothko, who spent his childhood in Portland and attended Lincoln High School after his family emigrated from Latvia. He also took classes at the museum’s art school. Visitors can check out a featured exhibit of Rothko’s work, including works on loan from the Rothko family’s collection, the National Gallery of Art and private collectors.

Here’s where to find even more more art throughout the Portland Region: 

Portland

At the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University, visitors can see works by world-renowned artists for free. Made possible in part thanks to a $5 million donation from Portland businessman and art aficionado Jordan Schnitzer, the museum is in PSU’s revamped and rechristened Fariborz Maseeh Hall. It occupies about 7,500 square feet across two floors. The PSU museum is open and free to the public Tuesday through Saturday, accessible via bus or light rail.

Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, located in a former bowling alley, has become a Portland favorite since its founding in 2000. The nonprofit offers a curator-in-residence program, as well as rotating exhibits, student showings and the Portland Biennial, a survey of Oregon artists defining the contemporary art scene. While the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about art, it’s actually home to an extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and books. The museum almost always has an art exhibit as part of its rotating roster, as well.