Milwaukie Minute - Murals Around Town

Share Milwaukie Minute - Murals Around Town on Facebook Share Milwaukie Minute - Murals Around Town on X (formerly Twitter) Share Milwaukie Minute - Murals Around Town on Linkedin Email Milwaukie Minute - Murals Around Town link
Mural on Little Blue Store

From Idea to Wall: How Milwaukie's Public Art Program Works

Milwaukie’s mural program helps turn blank walls into public art while making sure murals fit their surroundings, have community support and can be maintained for years to come.

Murals covering 40 to 100 percent of a wall go through the Public Art Mural Program, which includes a community review process. Murals covering 40 percent or less of a wall require a permit through the Planning Department. This Milwaukie Minute focuses on Public Art Murals.

The process starts with an initial meeting with the mural program coordinator to discuss the proposed artwork, location, funding and building-owner approval. Applicants then submit their design, site information, examples of the artist’s previous work, a project timeline and other materials.

Before the mural is reviewed, the proposal is publicly posted for at least 14 days. Milwaukie's Arts Committee then reviews the proposal, considering factors such as scale, context, community support, feasibility, durability, safety, and accessibility.

If approved, the building owner agrees to keep and maintain the mural for at least five years. This is only a summary of the process. Much more information is available at Public Art Murals.

Fun Fact

The Welcome toPhoto of Welcome to Milwaukie Mural Milwaukie Mural (pictured), by Jeremy Okai Davis, located on the Water Tower Reservoir at 4107 SE Harrison St. has recently been updated. It now includes a portrait of Seth Lewelling, some dogwood flowers, and a few other additions. Lewelling and Ah Bing, originally pictured on the mural, collaborated in 1875 to cultivate the Bing Cherry, which was a cross between the Black Republican and the Napoleon Cherry. It won first prize at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and is now the most popular sweet cherry in the United States. A sculpture was installed in 2023 in downtown Milwaukie's sculpture garden (Next to Pfriem Family Brewers at 10722 SE Main St.) celebrating the Bing cherry. In addition, the Arts Committee will host the fourth annual Bing in the New Year event on New Year's Eve again this year.


Quick Poll

Now that you know more about Milwaukie's Public Art Murals, please take a moment to let us know which murals you have visited in Milwaukie so far by taking the Quick Poll below.

Thanks so much for participating in the latest Milwaukie Minute!

From Idea to Wall: How Milwaukie's Public Art Program Works

Milwaukie’s mural program helps turn blank walls into public art while making sure murals fit their surroundings, have community support and can be maintained for years to come.

Murals covering 40 to 100 percent of a wall go through the Public Art Mural Program, which includes a community review process. Murals covering 40 percent or less of a wall require a permit through the Planning Department. This Milwaukie Minute focuses on Public Art Murals.

The process starts with an initial meeting with the mural program coordinator to discuss the proposed artwork, location, funding and building-owner approval. Applicants then submit their design, site information, examples of the artist’s previous work, a project timeline and other materials.

Before the mural is reviewed, the proposal is publicly posted for at least 14 days. Milwaukie's Arts Committee then reviews the proposal, considering factors such as scale, context, community support, feasibility, durability, safety, and accessibility.

If approved, the building owner agrees to keep and maintain the mural for at least five years. This is only a summary of the process. Much more information is available at Public Art Murals.

Fun Fact

The Welcome toPhoto of Welcome to Milwaukie Mural Milwaukie Mural (pictured), by Jeremy Okai Davis, located on the Water Tower Reservoir at 4107 SE Harrison St. has recently been updated. It now includes a portrait of Seth Lewelling, some dogwood flowers, and a few other additions. Lewelling and Ah Bing, originally pictured on the mural, collaborated in 1875 to cultivate the Bing Cherry, which was a cross between the Black Republican and the Napoleon Cherry. It won first prize at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago and is now the most popular sweet cherry in the United States. A sculpture was installed in 2023 in downtown Milwaukie's sculpture garden (Next to Pfriem Family Brewers at 10722 SE Main St.) celebrating the Bing cherry. In addition, the Arts Committee will host the fourth annual Bing in the New Year event on New Year's Eve again this year.


Quick Poll

Now that you know more about Milwaukie's Public Art Murals, please take a moment to let us know which murals you have visited in Milwaukie so far by taking the Quick Poll below.

Thanks so much for participating in the latest Milwaukie Minute!

  • Which Murals Have You Visited

    Take Quick Poll
    Share Which Murals Have You Visited on Facebook Share Which Murals Have You Visited on X (formerly Twitter) Share Which Murals Have You Visited on Linkedin Email Which Murals Have You Visited link
Page last updated: 24 Sep 2026, 10:56 AM