About
TEMPOart commissions temporary public art that sparks dialogue, builds community, and inspires our collective imagination.
For ten years, we’ve partnered with artists to create large-scale, site-specific works that transform familiar places into something new. Our projects invite people of all ages to pause, wonder, play, and connect with each other in the spaces we share. From parks and pathways to downtown streets, we bring art directly into daily life.
Why temporary?
Temporary public art responds to the moment we’re living in. Each commission becomes an invitation to encounter fresh ideas, explore new perspectives, and imagine what our city could be. Because it’s not permanent, it can be bold, playful, experimental, and deeply rooted in the now.
Why public?
Art in public space is the most accessible form of artwork. It is free for every member of our community to experience and create their own meaning and conversations with the work.
Why art?
Public art shapes the places we call home. Artists help us see the world differently, and their work fuels a vibrant, joyful, resilient Portland. At TEMPOart, we champion the role of artists as essential contributors to our cultural and civic life.
TEMPOart’s work started with one dreamer and doer, Alice Spencer, who believed Portland could be a city full of art that belongs to everyone. Thanks to her vision, and to all who have joined her along the way, we’ve grown into a vibrant, community-powered force for creativity.