Mark Rothko is one of the 20th century’s most famous painters, and his formative years were spent in Portland: He immigrated here at age 10 from Latvia and took classes at the Museum School at the Portland Art Museum before graduating from Lincoln High School. In October, the museum announced plans for the Rothko Pavilion (see pictures), a new multi-story glass structure that will link the museum’s two free-standing buildings and include a number of new galleries and education and programming spaces.

The Rothko Pavilion is not just paying homage to this under-sung hometown hero in its name. The art museum also announced a partnership with Rothko’s children to cycle his works through the museum on a rotating basis. Christopher Rothko sat down with Aaron Scott at last month’s Wordstock.

And we talk with the museum’s brand new Curator of Northwest Art, Grace Kook-Anderson.