Most of us take time in December to reflect and look back at the last year and seek some form of closure. The Public Art Division may look back and reflect on how our year went, but our projects don’t follow a fiscal year or Gregorian calendar. They move in… [ Keep reading ]
Publicly-sited artwork projects anchor the new Waterfront Park along Seattle’s central waterfront. As 2025 draws to a close, a visitor to Seattle’s transformed waterfront can view 9 site-specific artwork projects and two fountain re-installations that illustrate the City’s commitment to including art throughout the new park, and the connections leading… [ Keep reading ]
Our Director, Gülgün Kayim, is featured in the latest issue of AMA Magazine #373. She talks about how we’re working in Seattle to embed arts and culture into the city’s systems—from real estate and zoning, to public art, youth engagement, and economic resilience. As Director of Arts & Culture for… [ Keep reading ]
For the second year of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan (DAP), the Office of Arts & Culture has worked to lift up the arts and culture sector as a critical piece of a revitalized downtown. Earlier this year, we hosted “Downtown is Vibrant,” an event to share with community our… [ Keep reading ]
One of the wonderful things about living in Seattle is the richness of public art for all to enjoy. No matter where you go whether a park, downtown or your own neighborhood, Seattle is adorned with a wealth of art from the small scale, like Lost in Thought to the… [ Keep reading ]
Welcome Summer! Longer, dryer, and warmer days mean going out and spending time with friends and family (or on your own) to enjoy the public artworks on display throughout the city. This edition we’re looking back at all of the spring art in bloom. We welcomed new artworks into the… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Public Art division is starting 2025 with new projects, newly installed artwork, and ongoing gallery shows and maintenance to the Civic Art Collection. Here’s a brief overview of some of the many things happening in and around the city. Staffing Updates Public Art staff… [ Keep reading ]
Come Salute the Return of the Arboretum’s Iconic, Sculptural Entry Gates, Stolen and Destroyed at the Start of the Pandemic Seattle, WA—You are invited to attend a free public celebration at Washington Park Arboretum for the installation of the refabricated Tsutakawa Memorial Gates. Please join us at the Graham Visitors… [ Keep reading ]
Soul Pole, an important piece of Central District history will be reinstalled in front of the Douglass Truth Library this February. In the summer of 1969, as part of President Johnson’s Model Cities Program (which ended in 1974), the Soul Pole was carved in a month by five teen artists, aged 14–16:… [ Keep reading ]
We’re seeking an undergraduate college student for a 15- to 18-week internship to support our public art conservation and maintenance program this summer. This is an excellent opportunity for students to gain valuable knowledge of public art conservation. The intern will perform maintenance and conservation activities including pressure-washing, sanding, filing,… [ Keep reading ]
