Balfour Beatty Construction

Howard S. Wright Construction, the Portland arm of Balfour Beatty, came to us after watching murals go up around boarded storefronts all over the city. They had a pedestrian walkway running past one of their construction sites for the next two years and wanted it to feel safe and inviting instead of like something to avoid, while also pointing foot traffic toward the local businesses still hanging on nearby.

We brought in a Portland artist known for a distinct style: exaggerated, hand-painted faces, oversized eyes and noses and teeth, rendered in bright colors and patterns that let each viewer read the shapes their own way. Something playful and a little psychedelic, which matched the graphic wayfinding posters already planned for the walkway, directing people to the shops that remained open through construction. The install took three long days, and we finished it off with a clear coat before the rain rolled in, tough enough that the client can power wash off graffiti or debris without touching the art underneath.

The client walked away thrilled, not just with the mural itself but with what it did for their name in the neighborhood, turning a construction site into something people wanted to walk past instead of around.

Want a temporary mural that keeps foot traffic moving and your brand connected to the community? Kali Grey can find the right artist, manage the full production, and handle installation from start to finish. Reach out and let's talk.