About Portland Art Museum

Portland Art Museum

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With the distinction of being the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum (PAM) houses galleries dedicated to modern and contemporary art, photography, Native American art, graphic arts, and more.

With over 35,000 works of art, it is the region's most comprehensive visual arts resource.

The museum enters 2024 with a dynamic slate of exhibitions. From future-forward sneaker design to Impressionist masters and psychedelic posters, the exhibitions celebrate a wide range of artistic expression and offer visitors world-class experiences in the heart of downtown Portland.

Opening in March 2024, Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is an exhibition that sneaker-loving citizens of Portland and visitors are sure to enjoy—offering not only physical objects but digital imaginings, design concepts, and futuristic visions.

Summer at the Museum brings French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, a stunning exhibition from the Brooklyn Museum featuring nearly 60 works of art from several renowned artists, opening in summer 2024. Pulling from the Museum’s deep collection of prints and drawings, Psychedelic Rock Posters and Fashion of the 1960s will present more than 150 rock posters representing the leading artists and designers of the genre alongside nearly 20 fashion items of the era.

PAM will also host a strong set of critically acclaimed set of special exhibitions on view. The spectacular Africa Fashion (through February 18, 2024), from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and making its only West Coast stop at PAM, honors the irresistible creativity, ingenuity, and unstoppable global impact of contemporary African fashions. The exhibition offers a rewarding conversation with PAM’s expansive, powerful Black Artists of Oregon (through March 24, 2024), which celebrates the work of Black artists in our state over more than a century through an intergenerational tapestry of more than 200 artworks by 69 artists.

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Reviews & Ratings

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating based on 1202 reviews

September 29, 2026

Yrlenia

Water Lillie’s!!

We went to the musseum with the sole purpose of seeing Van Goh’s Water Lillies painting restored. The place was under construction and just a small part of it was open to the public, but the exhibitions were interesting, well displayed with good light and each piece was described precisely. I wouldn’t dare to recommend it since it was a bit messy due to the works. Now, the Lillies were gorgeous and the video explaining the process of restoration was very detailed.
September 27, 2026

trispringer

Art is a Plus, Gift Shop a Blah

I visit the museum 3-4 times per year and always enjoy the exhibitions. For a regional art museum, it provides multiple small and nicely curated exhibits from which to select and get your hands around. Just the right size for a 1.5 hour stroll through several interesting spaces. While the flow of rooms is a bit awkward, I would give it 4. 5*s for this component of the museum. However, when I am at other museums, I also look forward to visiting the Gift Shop. I would rate PAM's new Gift Shop at 2*s at most. It is most disappointing, especially when compared to the previous gift shop. Not enough variety, not enough interesting items, not enough quirky items, not enough items for kids, not enough locally sourced items. It is altogether a sterile experience that does not invite browsing and certainly discourages purchasing.
September 12, 2026

Kirk E

Super Native American Collection

The Native American collection at the Portland Art Museum, which encompasses both historical and contemporary work, is one of the finest of its kind to be found anywhere, and ranks as a must-see for any first-time visitor to Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Equally impressive is the museum's photography collection, always on display in one configuration or another. Those two galleries alone could easily occupy several hours viewing, which makes the museum's same-day come-and-go ticket well worth the $27 entrance fee. The two separate wings can be a bit of a maze for the uninitiated, so it's best to have the map in hand.
August 6, 2026

Laura L

Nice overview of art

I nice small sized art museum that is easily managed in an hour or so. Native American art not to be missed. Caught the free Thursday night day, bonus.
July 28, 2026

StacyLL2025

Art in the City

We always love checking out a new exhibit and the David Hockney exhibit at the Portland Art Museum did not disappoint. What a talent! And my husband and I really appreciated the layout of his pieces, as well as the layout of the museum in general. We are new residents and first time visitors and found it quite a value. In fact, we signed up for a membership because we are excited to see more of their exhibits. The gentleman at the counter was a huge help and greeted everyone warmly. The museum was clean and orderly, with everything easy to find. We went on a Sunday and last day of the exhibit so it was crowded but it did not feel too full. It was pleasant and the noise level was nice. The outdoor area was also a lovely place to enjoy some fresh air.