Caitlin Johnson: “Stamp Art Collage"

The utility box at 12230 Main St. was covered with an art wrap in July 2024.

The artist says, “This design is a collage of local flora and fauna via stamps. I thought since this is going next to the Post Office it could be a fun way to present all of the local plants, birds, and bugs. I tried to focus on Oregon native species and included many of the same species that were recently added to the native garden at the Tigard Library." 

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A Walk Through Time - Public Mural

In July 2019, professional artist Jeremy Nichols painted a public mural in Downtown Tigard. This project increases access to art in Tigard while also enhancing walkability and connectivity where Main Street meets the Fanno Creek Trail. The mural project was managed by the City of Tigard in conjunction with the Portland Street Art Alliance.

A Walk Through Time depicts images from Tigard’s history, including a representation of the Kalapuya tribe (the indigenous inhabitants of the area) and native flora and fauna.

Mural location, 12553 SW Main Street at the Fanno Creek Trail

Gateway Art

Downtown Tigard has two eye-catching pieces of art at either end of Main Street where it meets on Highway 99W. Two 16-foot steel sculptures that resemble flower petals were installed in 2015 alongside gateway improvements. These include stonework, a “Welcome to Downtown Tigard” sign, public seating areas, lighting and landscaping.

Artist Brian Borrello designed the artwork. He received input during a months-long public process from Tigard stakeholders, including the City Center Advisory Commission Public Art Subcommittee, composed of Tigard residents and business owners. The Public Art Subcommittee’s criteria required a project that would draw attention to the downtown area and ensure people could see it from the highway. The subcommittee’s review also called for considering the needs of the community, the installation site, businesses in the area and safety and maintenance issues.

The project was funded by tax increment financing funds. These are tax revenues raised in the City Center TIF District that are spent on projects within the district. Project costs were approximately $500,000. Of that amount, $80,000 was for the two sculptures and the remainder covered the gateway improvements.

The city and its partner, the Tigard Downtown Alliance (TDA), have identified public art as an important component to a vital downtown. The TDA has organized events like the Tigard Art Walk and sponsored the glass baskets on Main Street light poles and temporary art installations.

Art on Loan

A partnership between the City of Tigard and the Tigard Downtown Alliance (TDA), this program places art leased from local artists in locations around downtown Tigard. The program currently consists of two pieces – Mobius and One Nothing. Mobius was created from recycled post-consumer metals by artist Ben Dye and can currently be seen outside of Symposium Coffee (12345 SW Main St.). One Nothing, currently on view outside B&B Print Source (9040 SW Burnham St.), was loaned to the TDA by artist Susan Schimelfining. This sculpture was made from salvaged farm equipment and steel beams from building demolition.

TDA Board Member Mike Stevenson, Owner of B&B Print Source, has donated the space for One Nothing and paid for the base on his property. This is public art funded by downtown stakeholders and the TDA, one of our private sector partners in downtown revitalization.

Downtown Streetscape Improvements

Murals