Oregon Film at PDX Airport
Bringing Oregon’s Film Legacy to Millions
For many years now Oregon Film and the Oregon Film Trail have had both a productive and unique partnership with Portland International Airport (PDX). Oregon’s more than a century long film history is celebrated by PDX as a central part of Oregon’s cultural legacy. PDX’s commitment to amplify the state’s vibrant arts and culture scene to the millions of travelers that pass through its award winning terminals is of great value.
For travelers passing through PDX, a vibrant, immersive celebration of Oregon’s filmmaking history awaits - long before you ever reach your baggage carousel or departure gate. Through a dynamic partnership between Oregon Film, the Oregon Film Trail, and the PDX Art Program, Oregon’s cinematic heritage is now on public display in one of the state’s busiest cultural crossroads.
Installed in 2017 and located in the South Pedestrian Tunnel (the corridor linking the airport’s parking garage and car rental companies to the main terminal), a sweeping mural and poster exhibit more than 140 feet long tells a colorful story of Oregon’s filmmaking legacy. The exhibit sits next to the moving walkway giving travelers the ability to take in the 21 film and TV “one-sheet” posters that are framed atop an animated mural that captures the many landscapes and stories from all Oregon’s regions. The posters are often rotated to highlight new titles and new regions. It combines large-scale mural art, iconic film posters, and stylized imagery of Oregon landscapes showing off the state’s role in film and television production.
Later, Oregon Film and PDX collaborated on a temporary exhibit of key props from iconic #OregonMade films including Mikey’s bike from The Goonies and the hydrotherapy unit from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest that provides the crucial tool for Chief Bromden’s dramatic escape.
Also, just after the new terminal opened in 2024, local animation studio ShadowMachine partnered with Oregon Film and the Portland Events & Film Office to create an exhibit of puppets and sets from their Oscar winning feature film Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio.
A Visual Ode to Over a Century of Film in Oregon
But, more recently, at the center of Concourse B, is a bold and iconic mural was installed to tell a colorful story of Oregon’s filmmaking legacy.
Spanning more than 160 feet, the mural was developed as part of the PDX Art Program a long-standing initiative to bring compelling regional art to the airport environment. Oregon Film commissioned the project - and worked with Portland illustrator Nick Stokes and a team of partners - to create artwork that celebrates more than a century of Oregon filmmaking. The Hollywood Theatre provided collaboration, including creative development and production support by Jenny Lee and Gareth Smith. Koerner Camera Systems contributed as a supporting partner. Graphic Print Solutions printed and installed the mural.
Nearly 60 productions are featured in the mural, chosen from Oregon’s expansive catalog of films and television series, which dates back to the early 1900s. Viewers are invited to spot “easter eggs” woven throughout the piece - visual nods to familiar places, classic scenes, and behind-the-scenes moments from productions shot throughout the state.
Connecting Art, Film, and Place
The mural isn’t just a decorative display; it’s a living extension of the Oregon Film Trail, the nation’s first statewide physical network of film location markers. The trail - created and managed by Oregon Film in partnership with community organizations - highlights iconic filming sites across the state, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore cinematic landscapes in person.
Many of the locations referenced in the PDX artwork can be visited along the Oregon Film Trail using the SetJetters app, which connects travelers to mapped film scenes, local businesses, and points of cultural interest across Oregon.
By placing this artwork in the airport, the partners have effectively created a gateway to Oregon’s film culture, reaching millions of visitors each year and offering a fresh perspective on the state’s creative industries. The exhibit not only educates viewers about Oregon’s varied shooting locations and production history but also inspires deeper engagement with the state’s communities and landscapes.
A Celebration of Collaboration
The PDX film mural project reflects a broad coalition of support from Oregon’s creative and tourism sectors. Oregon Film provided artistic vision and curatorial leadership, while the PDX Art Program and Port of Portland offered exhibition space and logistical support. Additional partners - including the Hollywood Theatre, Travel Oregon, and local production businesses - helped realize the mural both technically and conceptually.
Jane Ridley, Director of Strategic Initiatives + Community Projects for Oregon Film, said the mural was designed to honor not just the films, but the people and places that make Oregon film production possible - from crews and creatives to the towns and settings that have graced screens around the world.
Why It Matters
The partnership between Oregon Film, the Oregon Film Trail, and PDX Airport does more than decorate a public space. It:
Highlights Oregon’s cinematic footprint, offering travelers context on productions that used the state’s locations.
Supports film tourism, encouraging visitors to explore the Oregon Film Trail beyond the airport.
Strengthens cultural identity, linking the state’s historic and contemporary productions to visual narrative art.
Amplifies partnerships between public institutions, the creative community, and tourism organizations.
In doing so, the PDX exhibits act as a living billboard for Oregon’s film industry - one that reaches local passengers, national visitors, and international travelers alike, celebrating the state’s role in shaping stories both big and small.
Next time you travel in or out of Portland, please, take a moment to pause and take it all in.