The permanent artwork collection for the Vanport Building was commissioned for the Vanport Building through Oregon’s Percent for Art in Public Places Program, administered by the Oregon Arts Commission. One of the first of such programs in the United States, the program has placed more than 2,400 works of art in public spaces throughout our state. The Vanport Building collection was created through collaboration between the City of Portland, Portland Community College, Portland State University, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Oregon Arts Commission, and Oregon Health and Science University. Ella Ray, a writer, curator, and PSU alumna, wrote an introductory essay for the collection.
Below, you will find information on each artist represented in the collection. The collection features 28 artworks that are in public spaces throughout the building.