Urban ArtWorks

Urban ArtWorks Engaging youth, artists, and communities in the creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices

06/25/2026

🐋 Did you know that June is Orca Action Month?

Programs Specialist and Artist Yasmine Kaner Yaz shares the story behind the mural she created for Orca Behavior Institute’s Orca Behavior Institute community art project, which honors the 75 remaining Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.

Each fin represents a specific orca and helps raise awareness about the challenges Southern Residents face, including declining Chinook salmon populations, vessel traffic and noise, and water pollution.

Yaz’s mural at the Southworth Ferry Terminal Washington State Dept. of Transportation (WSDOT) is now part of a growing collection of community-created artworks that honors the Orcas while encouraging action to protect their future.

🐳 Learn more about the 75 Fins for 75 Whales project through Orca Behavior Institute.

06/23/2026

🎨✨ Urban ArtWorks’ Base Crew youth artists partnered with Crown Hill neighbors to make a mural for the 8th Avenue NW underpass.

The project brought together youth artists, Teaching Artists, neighborhood partners, and over 400 hundred volunteers who helped paint the mural one brushstroke at a time.

Read the full story, hear from the youth artists and community members who made it possible, and see more photos from the project at the link in our bio (urbanartworks.org/crownhill)

Thank you to the Crown Hill Village Association, and the many volunteers and neighbors who helped make this mural a reality. Additional thanks to local businesses and This project was funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Grant from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. 💙

CrownHill

We’re excited to be participating in the 5th International Placemaking Week from June 24-26 in Detroit, MI, co-hosted by...
06/22/2026

We’re excited to be participating in the 5th International Placemaking Week from June 24-26 in Detroit, MI, co-hosted by and to welcome . Placemaking Week is a global gathering that brings together placemakers from every corner of the world to connect, learn, and leave a lasting public space legacy.
Project Director, Alex Nason, talk will focus on Placemaking for All Ages, highlighting how we pave professional pathways for youth in the arts and build stronger communities through collaboration.

We can’t wait to make new connections and learn more about the great work happening in the world of Placemaking!

If you’re in Detroit this week, let us know!

Today we honor Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom, Black history, resilience, joy, and the ongoing work of liberation....
06/19/2026

Today we honor Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom, Black history, resilience, joy, and the ongoing work of liberation.

We’re proud to share artwork created by Sabrionna, one of our interns, through a community commission celebrating Juneteenth.

One of the most interactive parts of the Kirkland Heights King County Housing Authority project was this community-creat...
06/18/2026

One of the most interactive parts of the Kirkland Heights King County Housing Authority project was this community-created installation for the welcome desk at the leasing office led by artist and Project Director Alex Nason .

During a Community Paint Day, participants designed and painted their own individual hexagonal tiles, each one reflecting a unique story, style, or creative expression. Alex then brought these pieces together into a permanent artwork installed inside the KCHA office, showing the individual contributions into a collective work of art. This piece serves as a lasting reminder that every community member helps shape the places we share.

For Kirkland Heights, a new community by King County Housing Authority artist Hoa Hong created a mural featuring hummin...
06/18/2026

For Kirkland Heights, a new community by King County Housing Authority artist Hoa Hong created a mural featuring hummingbirds, a symbol of resilience, joy, and connection to the natural world.

Inspired by the plants, gardens, and wildlife that surround the community, the piece reflects the life found both within the neighborhood and in the local environment.
Thank you, Hoa, for creating a beautiful mural that celebrates growth, movement, and community.

We're grateful to KCHA for the opportunity!

Artist Katrina Van Strien created this bright exterior mural for Kirkland Heights.Centered on connection, recreation, a...
06/17/2026

Artist Katrina Van Strien created this bright exterior mural for Kirkland Heights.

Centered on connection, recreation, and urban agriculture, the mural travels along a wide neighborhood pathway, with two people riding bicycles and another moving on a scooter in front of colorful apartment buildings. The path leads through a green landscape lined with trees beneath a sky filled with stylized clouds. On the right, community members tend raised garden beds of the cherished shared p-patch, overflowing with vegetables and greenery.

Community members helped bring Katrina's design to life during Urban ArtWorks' Community Paint Day, contributing brushstrokes that became part of the final installation.

We're grateful to King County Housing Authority for the opportunity, and to Katrina for creating such a powerful piece.

As Katie Chilton wraps up her internship with Urban ArtWorks, we give our heartfelt thanks for all she brought to our te...
06/16/2026

As Katie Chilton wraps up her internship with Urban ArtWorks, we give our heartfelt thanks for all she brought to our team this year. Kathleen's curiosity, creativity, and dedication made a meaningful impact across our programs and communications efforts.

As an MFA student in Arts Leadership at Seattle University, she brought thoughtful insights and We are grateful for her contributions and excited to see where her arts leadership journey takes her next. Thank you, Katie! we're cheering you on! 🎨✨

Thank you to the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle for investing in creativity, community, and young people across Seattl...
06/16/2026

Thank you to the Office of Arts & Culture Seattle for investing in creativity, community, and young people across Seattle.

Your support helps Urban ArtWorks provide meaningful opportunities for youth and professional artists to develop their skills, share their voices, and transform public spaces through art. We're grateful for your partnership and commitment to the arts. 🎨✨

In particular, your ongoing partnership through a C.A.R.E. (Centering Art & Racial Equity) award supports our efforts to be a more inclusive organization.

06/12/2026

⏰🎨 It’s happening tomorrow!
We’re celebrating the completion of the Crown Hill Underpass mural and we’d love for you to join us!

✨ Official Mural Unveiling�📅 Saturday, June 13�🕒 3:00 PM�📍 Crown Hill Underpass�9087 Holman Rd NW, Seattle, WA 98117

After the unveiling, keep the celebration going at the Crown Hill Day Street Festival at Crown Hill Plaza with live music, local makers, food trucks, family activities, and more!

This free community event will also include a toiletries drive benefiting Labateyah Youth Home.
See you tomorrow! 🌞🎷🎨

This project is funded in part by a Neighborhood Matching Fund award from Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Address

815 Seattle Boulevard S, Ste B7
Seattle, WA
98134

Telephone

+12062924142

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Urban ArtWorks posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Urban ArtWorks:

Shortcuts

Share

Category