In summer of 2022, curator Chelsea Stephen acquired a retail space in a soon-to-be-renovated building in inner SE Portland that was still cluttered with the previous tenant's discarded wares. Alongside her friend and fellow artist, Eatcho, they repurposed what they could, cleared out the rest, painted the walls white, and welcomed Bobby Adams to showcase his work before his departure to San Francisco. What began as an experiment blossomed into a year filled with free-form exhibitions, featuring artists who recognized the unique potential of the purple doored peculiar space.

Fast forward to June 2024, and we are thrilled to unveil the NEW Purple Door Gallery! With revamped interiors boasting track lighting, taller ceilings, and abundant natural sunlight, we stay true to our quirky roots while embracing a fresh chapter of creativity with the hope to bring continued joy and inspiration to this little pocket of south east Portland.

We're all about creating a space where everyone can feel welcome and inspired. No Rules*, Be You. Step inside and stay awhile.

Because the door was already a distinct purple. Sometimes a place just names itself. And yes, the original purple door is still part of the gallery, its just inside now :).

Why come here? Because we think art is the only thing that makes sense these days.

Why show here? We want you to be YOU which means we have ample opportunities for you to show your work in your unique way. Its YOUR gallery after all. Come in. Let's chat.....

We have a 700 sq foot with an additional 115 sq foot room in back for smaller exhibitions, installations, or interactive experiences! We are currently booked through Summer 2025.

We also open our gallery space up to creative workshops, classes and drawing nights to local creatives that want to share their gifts with the public. Check our events page or reach out to us with your ideas. We are open to booking classes Monday through Thursday.