Public Art

Adriene's adopted city, Portland, OR, has a wealth of public art projects that beautify and uplift. Adriene has participated in several works below. 

"I'm an artist who makes quilts, but I also do public art, as an extension of the quilts. Both quilting and public art mean working toward a place of lifting the spirit and feeling good, a place of inspiration where beauty brings peace and feeds the soul."

The North Killingsworth Street MAX Station

Interstate Avenue at N. Kilingsworth
Portland, Oregon's public transit system, the MAX, is beautifying its stations through the designs of a variety of public artists. The North Killingsworth Street Station, which opened May 1, 2004, was developed through a mentorship between Adriene Cruz and design team artist, Valerie Otani. 

Starbucks Collaboration

Northeast 15th Avenue at FreemontAdriene's mural at a Starbucks coffee house in Portland. 

The Northeast Health Center

5329 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
The building's vibrant color scheme cannot be missed by passersby and building users. She believes that colors have a magical way of transforming space, and the right combination will positively impact the community. She used colors and patterns found in her quilts, as well as African Adinkra symbols as design elements. Assisting Adriene with the project were Calvert Johnny and two youths from the community, Jamaan Profit and Jose Reyes.