PORTLAND, Ore. – Nearly 20 long-vacant storefronts in Portland’s Old Town neighborhood have been transformed into glowing showcases of creativity thanks to the launch of the No Vacancy Window Gallery. The project, unveiled this week, fills empty business windows with art installations, turning boarded-up spaces into an “open-air” gallery accessible to the public 24 hours a day.
Running now through December 1, the free exhibit stretches from the White Stag Block at 70 NW Couch Street, under the iconic Chinatown gates, and along Northwest Fourth Avenue and Burnside Street.
Breathing Life into Empty Spaces
The No Vacancy pilot project was created to inject new energy into a part of the city that has long struggled with vacancy and negative perception. Organizers say the initiative aims to showcase the richness of Old Town’s cultural and architectural heritage while providing opportunities for local artists.
Featured works span photography, textiles, sculpture, paintings, and mixed-media installations, each staged in once-boarded storefront windows. For many of these spaces, it is the first time in years that pedestrians have had a reason to stop and look in.
Community Collaboration
The project is spearheaded by Field States, a Portland-based real estate strategy firm, with support from Prosper Portland and the Old Town Community Association. Together, the partners hope the effort will not only beautify the neighborhood but also help attract potential tenants and businesses.
All exhibit placards list both the artist’s name and the landlord’s contact information, directly linking art lovers—or prospective entrepreneurs—to the opportunity to lease space.
Inspiration from the West Coast
Field States founder and CEO Matthew Claudel, whose company is headquartered in Old Town on Northwest Fifth Avenue, said he drew inspiration from similar initiatives in other West Coast cities. Projects like Seattle Restored and Vacant to Vibrant in San Francisco have reimagined vacant retail space as platforms for creativity, drawing foot traffic and reinvigorating struggling districts.
“With Old Town, and in Portland, we let the muscle of going downtown atrophy a little,” Claudel said. “The reality is there’s a stigma around this neighborhood. Even though it’s got heritage architecture and so much cultural richness, a lot of people don’t come down here anymore, and it’s such a shame. No Vacancy is about supporting local artists and bringing people back to Old Town.”
Spotlight on Artists
One of the installations drawing attention is located inside the Tuck Lung Building at 140 NW Fourth Avenue. Through its distinctive hexagonal windows, passersby can view a vivid red-and-blue tablescape created by artist Lauren Lesueur.
Lesueur, who also served as curator for the show, said her piece pays tribute to the building’s history and the Wong family, who operated a grocery store and restaurant there for decades.
“I wanted to take that space and pay tribute to the family,” she explained, noting how Old Town’s layers of history inspired her approach.
A Positive Vision for Old Town
For organizers and participants, the project is about more than just art—it’s about reframing how Portlanders view Old Town. By filling once-dark storefronts with light, color, and creativity, No Vacancy highlights the neighborhood’s potential for renewal.
The installations invite visitors to stop, reflect, and even imagine themselves as part of Old Town’s future, whether as artists, entrepreneurs, or simply community members enjoying a walk downtown.
Looking Ahead
The No Vacancy Window Gallery will remain on view through December 1, 2025, with organizers already exploring ways to continue or expand the project beyond its pilot stage.
As Claudel put it, the gallery is not just about reclaiming space—it’s about reclaiming community energy: “This is about showing what’s possible when you give people a reason to come back.”
Leave a Reply