From our partner's newsroom:
In collaboration with the Port of Portland, the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) is excited to announce that Oregon artists Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small have each been chosen to create a mural design for the exit halls at the Portland International Airport (PDX), anticipated to be installed in spring 2026. The artists were selected through a competitive process by the PDX Terminal Core Redevelopment (TCORE) Public Art Committee that considered applications from an applicant pool of 78 artists and artist teams from across the region.
The renovation of the airport’s main terminal aims to increase the capacity, flexibility, and resilience of the airport, while improving the travel experience and adding more of what people love about PDX–including more art. These commissioned mural designs are among several exciting new public art projects RACC is managing within the new PDX.
The vibrant 59-foot-long murals will celebrate local mural culture and promote pride of place and a sense of home. Custom-printed and installed in the north and south exit halls of the main terminal, the artworks will remain on display for one to three years. The exit halls are the last post-security area passengers will walk through before they meet friends, family, or other meeters/greeters, leave the terminal, or travel downstairs to baggage claim to pick up their luggage. The murals will be the first cycle of two new rotating art exhibition locations post-security at PDX that will be refreshed with new murals every two to three years.
“We’re excited to collaborate with the Port of Portland on these new mural commissions by Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small,” says Kristin Law Calhoun, Director of Partnerships and Programs at the Regional Arts & Culture Council. “Located in the airport’s exit halls, these bold, site-responsive works will engage travelers as they arrive or depart, highlighting some of the distinct creative culture and landmarks of our region.”
“Talented local artists Lettie Jane Rennekamp and Mark Small are creating two massive inspiring murals for PDX, bringing their unique transformative designs to the airport’s new North and South passenger exit lanes. These fantastic and colorful mural designs represent Portland’s resilience and potential, celebrate our thriving community spirit, and welcome everyone,” says Wendy Given, Art Program Manager at the Port of Portland.
About the Artists
Lettie Jane Rennekamp (she/they) is an artist, muralist, teacher, and parent originally from Kentucky and now based in Portland, OR. Here, she also owns and runs Ulna Art Studio with Cole Lyons and Jolyn Fry. Through illustrations depicting people, plants, and patterns, Rennekamp aims to capture abstract ideas such as moving through grief, self-acceptance, or a sense of place. Her work ranges from more serious yet tender contemplative work about what it means to inhabit a body in this world to whimsical depictions of nature and the humans and animals that occupy it. Rennekamp has had murals commissioned by many clients in Portland and beyond, including Boeing, The City of Tigard, Advantis Credit Union, Leach Botanical Garden, Scratch Meats, and Radius Art Center, among others, and numerous private individuals.
Rennekamp’s mural, entitled Watercolor Walk, presents a dreamlike walk through a park, providing the diverse travelers to PDX an experience that is both joyful and soothing. As people pass by the mural, they will find themselves meandering through a visually rich landscape of watercolor washes and collaged elements.
Based in Portland with deep roots in Brooklyn, New York, Mark Small is a visual artist and graphic designer who creates distinctive visual narratives at the intersection of classical design principles and contemporary urban culture. His practice draws from mid-century modernist traditions and Renaissance compositional structures, interwoven with the visual language of hip-hop’s golden era and graffiti culture.
As co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Les Sapeur, a design studio established in 2023, Small develops work that centers themes of place, identity, and collective experience. Through his practice, he advances representation and accessibility within the Pacific Northwest’s cultural and design sectors, contributing to the region’s evolving creative landscape and commitment to diverse artistic voices.
Small’s mural presents a panoramic view of Portland’s urban landscape, incorporating recognizable architectural landmarks, neighborhood scenes, and symbolic imagery—including a sneaker-wearing sasquatch integrated into the city’s streetscape. The composition is designed to align with the flow of passengers moving through the Exit Hall, creating visual rhythm that corresponds to pedestrian movement through the terminal.
The artwork offers moments of recognition for returning residents while introducing visitors to Portland’s cultural character and sense of place. Through its layered references to local landmarks and community identity, the mural reflects the city’s creative spirit and establishes the airport as a threshold between travel and homecoming.
Please find a folder of images for use here.
