Oregon’s Paint Recycling Legacy Gets New Life in Portland Mural Project

PaintCare partners with Portland Street Art Alliance to turn recycled paint into public art

PORTLAND, Ore., September 25, 2026--PaintCare, the nonprofit organization that operates Oregon's first-in-the-nation paint stewardship program, unveiled a new mural today in partnership with Portland Street Art Alliance (PSAA), a Portland-based nonprofit organization empowering local street artists.

The project celebrates the state's history of sustainability and paint stewardship by turning recycled paint into highly visible public art in Portland's Buckman neighborhood. The mural was created by Portland-based artist Jessilyn Brinkerhoff, who has been painting nature-inspired murals throughout Oregon for more than a decade.

"For the last 16 years, Oregon has led the way and demonstrated what's possible through paint stewardship, and we're now approaching 11 million gallons of paint collected through the PaintCare program across the state," said Michael W. Johnson, CEO of the American Coatings Association, which created PaintCare. "That achievement reflects the ongoing commitment of Oregon households and businesses, our drop-off site partners, local governments, and industry stakeholders. We're especially proud to partner with local artist Jessilyn Brinkerhoff and PSAA on this mural, which highlights how leftover paint can be given a second life while creating something meaningful and lasting for the community."

Brinkerhoff's design incorporates Pacific Northwest species throughout, including cicadas, turkeytail mushroom, juniper, and Oregon grape, to represent the region's natural cycles of growth and renewal. Recycled and re-used paint used for the mural was donated by GreenSheen Paint and Visions Quality Coatings.

"Each element reflects a different part of nature's continuous cycle," said Brinkerhoff. "Together, they celebrate recycling, stewardship, sustainability, and our responsibility to care for the ecosystems we share."

The project brings renewed awareness to Oregon's paint recycling system, which was established following the passage of the state's paint stewardship law (HB 3037) in 2009. The law holds producers responsible for managing leftover paint and makes it easy for households and businesses to safely dispose of unwanted paint. It is funded through a fee incorporated into the purchase price of new paint, so the public can bring leftover paint to drop-off sites for free.

"As the first state to pass a statewide paint stewardship and recycling law, Oregon has been a leader in giving leftover paint a second life," said Marjaneh Zarrehparvar, President, PaintCare. "This mural is a meaningful way to recognize that legacy while showing what's possible when we bring paint recycling and local art together."