Portland’s “Avenue of Murals” has seven new column mural additions, thanks to artists Paola De La Cruz and Kyra Watkins, the Portland Street Art Alliance and Regional Arts & Culture Council.

The murals are located at Southeast Madison Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Second Avenue, under the Hawthorne Bridge Viaduct.

Since 2022, PSAA has teamed up with local organizations and businesses to transform Southeast 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.

Phase III of this initiative involved RACC, PSAA and the two artists, and mural concept 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.

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, and a beautifully illustrated tribute to Rosa Parks on a bus wrap for TriMet. De La Cruz added three stunning new works to the column mural initiative that explore movement, bold color, and viewer interaction from every angle. These designs were uniquely inspired by the canvas, with Paola drawing inspiration from movement and colors designed to bring more light and vibrancy to the area.

“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,” she said.

Four  bold new column murals by Watkins each celebrates a different industry that shapes Portland’s Central Eastside. Watkins’ 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, Watkins 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,” Watkins said.

More: pdxstreetart.org.