resist and then create.

Never Look Away is a 3-storey high mural in downtown Portland, Oregon that is dedicated to the Queer community. Its creation demonstrates the power of regular people coming together to build something bigger than themselves - and of how public art is another layer in the lifelong process of coming out for our community.

In 2019, Zoe Piliafas noticed that the progressive city of Portland, Oregon - long known to be a welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community - didn't have any public art specifically for the Queer community. So she formed a production team with local artist Cassandra Swan, project manager Ruban Lawrence, and Pride Northwest to try to create this - and so was the genesis of the "Never Look Away" mural.

Throughout Portland, stickers bearing the frantic message of "Resist!" are found everywhere - resist oppression, resist homophobia - resist, resist, resist. When the production team first came together, they agreed that only resisting ends in destruction - and that the sister of resistance is creation. So they decided to create something that is an act of creating the world they wish for. 

The mural features eight people who made significant contributions to the Queer community's history and rights - Marsha P. Johnson, David Martinez, Asa Wright, Angelica Ross, Aydian Dowling, Kathleen Saadat, Lynn Nakamoto, and Rupert Kinnard. 

You'll learn about the Queer community's history, you'll witness how a massive piece of public art goes from being an idea, to existing in front of your very eyes. You'll see how public art is a way of staking out a share of public space - of saying to the world, "We exist, and we have a right to exist." 

Meet the Production Team

  • Zoe Piliafas

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

    Zoe is the Executive Producer of PDX public art: Portland's first queer mural: Never Look Away, Alberta Black Heritage Art Markers, Black United Funds Mural Reason for Hope, Living Room Theater's: Fiercest Athletes Mural

  • CASSANDRA SWAN

    PRODUCER

    Illustrator, designer, art director, and adjunct professor for PSUGD. Cassandra has worked with clients like Wieden+Kennedy, Swift, Capitol Records, The Stranger, Burrow, and the Portland Art Museum.

  • Debra Porta

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Debra Porta is the Executive Director of Pride Northwest. She has a demonstrated history of working in the civic & social organization industry.

  • RUBAN LAWRENCE

    PRODUCER

    Ruban Lawrence has worked in software consulting for 12+ years, and has extensive experience in project management. As a brown queer man, there is great meaning for him in being able to use his professional skills to contribute to the queer rights movement by co-creating the Never Look Away mural.