Salem, Oregon — Bridges Oregon is proud to celebrate the upcoming unveiling of two large-scale public murals at Portland International Airport (PDX), highlighting the people and communities who helped shape the airport’s transformation.
The two murals—each spanning approximately 80 feet wide—will be prominently installed in the pre-security ticket lobby. The installation reflects a deeply intentional, community-centered process led by the Port of Portland, showcasing individuals whose work and lived experiences have contributed to building a more inclusive and vibrant region.
The murals feature a diverse range of local contributors across industries, crafts, and lived experiences. From architects and electricians to tribal forestry partners, tile makers, regional artists, and accessibility advocates, the range of participants reflects the region-wide collaboration it took to locally source an airport from scratch.
Among them is Chad A. Ludwig, Founder and Executive Director of Bridges Oregon, representing the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and the broader work of advancing communication access and equity across the state.
Bridges Oregon also extends its appreciation to photographer Josué Rivas and INDIGEINA for their remarkable, community-centered approach to capturing each participant. The process—grounded in collaboration, identity, and self-expression—helped ensure that every individual was represented with authenticity and dignity.
“These murals represent more than just art—they reflect who we are as a community,” said Ludwig. “To see Deaf representation included as part of the story of PDX sends a powerful message about belonging, visibility, and equity.”
The visual storytelling approach centers on authentic portraits and personal identity, moving beyond job titles to highlight the humanity and individuality of each person featured. The result is a collective narrative that honors collaboration across industries, cultures, and communities.
Bridges Oregon also recognizes the Port of Portland for setting a national example in accessibility and representation. Through its intentional engagement with diverse communities, PDX continues to demonstrate what it means to design public infrastructure that reflects and serves everyone.
“Public spaces like airports shape how communities are seen and understood,” Ludwig added. “PDX is showing what’s possible when inclusion and representation are treated as essential—not optional.”
Bridges Oregon encourages community members and partners to attend and experience the murals.
About Bridges Oregon:
Bridges Oregon is a nonprofit for Oregonians who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Deafdisabled, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened or face other communication barriers. It is in our mission to facilitate equity and inclusiveness and to provide a bridge to opportunities through advocacy, education, and communication.