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Seattle Culture

Downtown Seattle’s Palette Parade

More than 30 murals will soon go up across the city

By Rob Smith August 9, 2024

A colorful mural on an urban wall in Downtown Seattle depicts a person in sunglasses and a headscarf blowing into a long pipe, producing vibrant, swirling colors. City buildings tower in the background, creating a stunning Palette Parade of urban art.
Mural by local artist Myron Curry, inspired by Ed Schmid's, Beginning Glass Blowing.
Photo by Kristin Gillespie

Downtown Seattle is about to get a lot more colorful. More than 30 murals will soon appear across the downtown core from Belltown to SODO to enliven empty spaces.

The effort, officially known at the Hope Corps Downtown Seattle Mural Project, is part of Mayor Bruce Harrell’s Downtown Activation Plan launched in the summer of 2023. The plan contains several elements, with the goal of revitalizing the heart of the city by making it safer and more attractive.

The art will remain through 2026.

“Seattle is an art city,” Harrell says. “Our city’s natural beauty is enhanced by our local artists who use our urban center as a canvas to create art the whole community can gather around and enjoy. These murals reflect the creativity and diversity of our communities.”

A large mural on the side of a brick building in Downtown Seattle depicts a person in a yellow jersey. Trees and parked cars are in the foreground, adding to this vibrant Palette Parade masterpiece.

Mural by local artist Craig Cundiff on Hotel Sorrento, inspired by Daniel James Brown’s, Boys in the Boat.

Photo by Kristin Gillespie

Four pieces have been completed, and work on nearly all murals are set to begin by the end of August. Two pieces by Louie Gong will be installed in November to align with Seattle native Bruce Lee’s birthday on Nov. 27.

Events associated with the project include the Wall Out Gallery Show from Aug. 3 to Sept. 14 that features the work of more than 20 mural artists; and the Belltown Mural Festival from Aug. 13-18.

The effort is a collaboration between Visit Seattle, the Downtown Seattle Association Belltown United, CID Business Relief Team, SODO Business Improvement Area, and Wing Luke Memorial Foundation.

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