Photo: Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers have collaborated with local artists and the Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA) to create three murals and with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to wrap 47 utility boxes with designs representing the six neighborhoods that make up Rip City: North, Northwest, Northeast, East, Southeast and Southwest Portland.

“With Portland being home to so many talented artists and designers, we were excited to be a part of two incredible opportunities to collaborate alongside local creators to help beautify our city and the vibrant neighborhoods that so many of us call home” said Ryan Flaherty, Trail Blazers Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing “ "With the help of PBOT, we wrapped 47 utility boxes, and in collaboration with PSAA, we created three murals — all highlighting the iconic staples and unique voices that make Portland the city we are proud to play for."

“As a proud member of Rip City, PBOT is thrilled to partner with the Portland Trail Blazers and local artists to bring art, creativity, and the spirit of ’77 to our streets and utility boxes,” said Transportation Director Millicent Williams. “The addition of this artwork to our cityscape is a reminder to all travelers of our love for our home team and our city.”

“Street art is one of the most powerful ways a city can tell its story, and this collaboration does exactly that. The three murals were produced through PSAA's Community Art Program, a place-based program that brings local artists together to create site-specific work with full creative freedom,” said Tiffany Conklin, Co-founder and Executive Director of Portland Street Art Alliance. “What makes this collaboration especially meaningful is that the crews behind these murals include graffiti writers alongside muralists, writers who have long shaped Portland's visual culture from the ground up, often without institutional recognition. Bringing that tradition into a city-wide initiative of this scale and visibility is exactly the kind of shift in ethos we work toward every day. We're grateful to the Trail Blazers and PBOT for investing in Portland's creative community in such an authentic way.”

Each utility box design represents one of the six neighborhoods that make up Portland, from North Portland all the way South to Southeast and Southwest. Each neighborhood will see six to ten utility boxes wrapped in their area. The three murals are located throughout Portland: “Rip City Roar” just outside Moda Center, “For Rip City” in Central Eastside and “Playoff Bound” in Northeast Portland.

Below, read more about the artists who designed the murals and utility boxes, their inspirations and work, in their own words:

Muralists

“For Rip City” – 66 SE Madison Street

Created by GIVER, KSRA and THEY DRIFT with accompanying art by NEKON, TIMBER, ASKEW, NOTES and THRIVES. “For Rip City” is more than just a name; it’s an ethos. Raindrops and basketballs are interspersed throughout the piece, making for a truly Portland drip n’ drop background.

“Rip City Roar” – 7 NE Oregon Street

Created by THEY DRIFT, KSRA and GIVER, inspired by hearing the roar of Moda Center gameday crowds, “this city doesn’t whisper. It plays LOUD,” said THEY DRIFT. Rip City Roar contains a mixture of character art and graphic lettering. The first panel features an impressive mashup of the Trail Blazers' logo and a rose, leading into some tight lettering.

“Playoff Bound” – 3075 NE Sandy

Created by The Earwig and OPASIT, the art is packed with Rip City love: Blazers and Rip City call-outs, a central basketball team with the Blazers logo front and center, a pair of kicks nodding to Portland's legendary footwear culture, and even the iconic PDX carpet as a nod to the Blazers' City Edition jerseys.

Utility Box Artists

Jack Kent (@minustidecomic) – North

“With my family’s roots in the Oregon logging industry, the Paul Bunyan statue found in North Portland has always meant a lot to me, making it important to include in my design. Combining it with the iconic St. John’s Bridge was a perfect fit, as it’s not only one of my favorite bridges in Portland but also one I’m fortunate to cross daily.”

Nia Musiba (@niamusiba) – Northwest

“Highlighting the diversity, brightness, and energy of NW Portland while also honoring its rich cultural history. The scene is inspired by Northwest featuring several iconic moments and symbols, including: the famous Vaux Swifts, the West Hills, Koi fish as a homage to China and the general food and drink scene with Northwest’s nightlife.”

Jax Ko (@yojaxko) – Northeast

“A nod to Northeast Portland’s history and its eclectic draw of restaurants, local music and art. Notably, I’m featuring a portrait of Paul Knauls, known as the “Mayor of Albina,” who has been a pillar of the community for decades. He ran an iconic jazz club in Albina called the Cotton Club in the 60s that hosted legends like Etta James & Sammy Davis Jr. The Dream statue in the Rose Quarter was an initiative he pioneered, and he just turned 95 in February!”

Naomi Likayi (@mungala_nao) – East

“This piece honors the symbiotic community of East Portland, depicting diversity, food, and park trails in tandem with each other. Inspired by my own upbringing between Hazelwood & Montavilla, first-gen Somali, Vietnamese, Russian, Mexican, and Congolese immigrants make up the fabric of diversity and the working-class population of Portland.”

Bethany Ng (@bethanyng) – Southeast

“My design is inspired by the amazing and diverse people who make Portland so special. I wanted to create something that would make people smile and be proud of what makes their neighborhood unique.”

Edmund Mundo Holmes (@mundooo) – Southwest

“I wanted to infuse the city with moments of vibrant joy and expression through my art. Drawing inspiration from Portland's enthusiasm for sport, nature and music, my goal was to reflect the city's dynamic energy in a way that feels alive, shared and always in motion.”

Source: Portland Trail Blazers

Marc 'The Cope' Coppola